Youth Engagement Project Lead selected as Community Captain

Tom Watkins named Premier League Community Captain
Tom works across both the Premier League Inspires and Premier League Kicks programmes to support young people across Wigan
Latics midfielder Jensen Weir presented Tom with the award at the Premier League Kicks session at Laithwaite Park

Wigan Athletic Community Trust has named Tom Watkins as their Premier League Community Captain in recognition of his commitment and contribution to the game and society.

Over the past two weeks, the Premier League and clubs will be celebrating ‘More Than A Game’ and highlighting the positive impact of Premier League investment into communities and clubs at every level of football.

The Premier League is investing £1.6 billion into wider football and communities between 2022 and 2025 to support football at every level of the game across England and Wales. This world-leading funding into clubs, communities and facilities positively impacts and inspires millions of people.

As part of ‘More Than A Game’, the League will be celebrating more than 100 Community Captains – individuals nominated by Premier League, EFL and National League clubs for their contribution to their local community via programmes funded by the Premier League.

Tom Watkins has been chosen as Wigan Athletic’s 2025 Community Captain for their incredible commitment to their community and for his work on the Premier League Inspires and Premier League Kicks projects as Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Youth Engagement Project Lead.

Tom first joined Wigan Athletic Community Trust in 2018 to work in Primary Schools through the Premier League Primary Stars project before progressing to his current role of Youth Engagement Project Lead and playing a vital role in supporting and mentoring young people across Wigan through the Premier League Inspires and Premier League Kicks programmes.

On receiving the award, Tom said: “It’s a real honour to receive this Premier League Community Captain award. The acknowledgement from others for my work within the community is always amazing to hear.

“I would like to say that this award doesn’t just belong to me, it belongs to every young person I’ve had the privilege of working with and all the other community coaches working at our Trust who believe in the power of football to change lives.

“In Wigan, like many places, there are so many young people facing tough barriers and challenges. The power of community engagement programmes like Premier League Kicks should never be undervalued and holds so much potential to change young people’s lives for the better.”

Wigan Athletic Community Trust are proud to celebrate the achievements of our chosen Premier League Community Captain, Tom Watkins, recognising the instrumental role he plays in supporting young people across the Premier League Inspires and Premier League Kicks programmes. Ensuring that young people across Wigan can access free football sessions, lead active and healthy lives and have the best possible chance to achieve their potential.

Rachel Wood, Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Youth Engagement Manager, said: “Tom will go above and beyond to ensure all young people across our Premier League programmes have equal opportunities. There is no limit to what Tom will try and do to help provide a safe space for all. Tom helped launch and run our Premier League Kicks Boot Swap Shop, which works across all sites of Wigan, Leigh and Skelmersdale to help support young people in accessing recycled football boots. He is a true positive role model and reflection of everything a Community Captain should be.”

Premier League Director of Community Nick Perchard said: “It is so important that we continue to recognise and collectively highlight the positive impact that work within local communities has, championing those at the heart of Premier League-funded initiatives. Success on the pitch enables the Premier League to share unparallelled investment into communities and football at all levels across England and Wales.”

Tom Watkins named as Community Captain for Premier League More Than A Game initiative