Luton footballers Jacob Brown and Elly Wade have been honoured with the 2024/25 PFA Community Champion awards, recognising their dedication to local projects that have made a lasting impact across the town and surrounding areas.
The awards, presented by pupils and staff at Tithe Farm Primary School in Houghton Regis, were handed out on behalf of the Luton Town Community Trust – who nominated both players for going above and beyond in their support of community initiatives over the past year.
Brown, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury, has been involved in the Trust’s anti-discrimination work in schools.
He told the club’s website: “It’s probably my favourite award to win because when I was growing up I used to look up to players as it was something I wanted to do. For me to be in that position now and give back to those who were in my position, it’s the best feeling.
“It’s great for the community to go into local schools and hear Elly speak about women’s football and how she’s making an impact, it’s really important, and seeing the girls’ love for football is really nice to see.”
Wade, who captained Luton Town Ladies to a league and cup double last season, has been praised for her work in inspiring more women and girls to get involved in football.
Wade said: “When the children asked me about women’s football it caught me by surprise because it’s amazing that children of this age are thinking about the impact of the women’s game and what we’re doing to help raise the profile of it.
“It was a really nice question to have and it says a lot about women who are coming through who want to play football.
“It was also a reminder for me to keep the things we do and that there’s still plenty of work to be done, especially at youth and grassroots level.
“It’s an honour to be able to come and get to meet these amazing children and hear their incredible questions about determination and the things we do as footballers. For me it’s one of my favourite things about being a footballer, being at Luton and being captain.”
Luton’s Community Trust runs weekly Premier League Primary Stars sessions at Tithe Farm Primary School, focusing on promoting equality, encouraging participation and creating new opportunities for girls to play football.
Daniel Douglas, head of the Luton Town Community Trust, praised both players for their continued involvement and leadership off the pitch.
“I would like to thank Elly and Jacob for their outstanding and ongoing support in the community this season,” he said.
“The positive influence they have had on the thousands of individuals supported by the Community Trust has been truly inspirational.
“Both Elly and Jacob have become familiar and much-loved faces across our programmes – whether engaging with young people in schools, supporting health and wellbeing initiatives, or attending local events, their commitment has gone above and beyond.
“Their willingness to give their time, share their experiences, and connect with people from all walks of life reflects the values we hold at Luton Town. We’re incredibly proud to name them our PFA Community Champions.”
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