Grassroots football hero Dan is first winner of Nationwide Respect award

The Nationwide Mutual Respect Award, as part of the Football Association's Respect campaign, aims to help make grassroots football more respectful and positive.

The brand-new award recognises outstanding contributions, achievements and behaviour in grassroots football across the country by young players under 18, coaches, teams, parents and referees.

Dan, 36, from Peacehaven, said: "It is an absolute thrill to win this Nationwide Mutual Respect Award and I will share it with all the people at our junior football club.

“I believe community football clubs have never been more important to bring people together and help each other through these challenging times."

Nominations from Dan's community helped him to win January’s Nationwide Mutual Respect Award.

Chris Hull, Ambassador for Nationwide’s Mutual Respect Award, said: "Nominations for Dan were absolutely glowing. He has been coaching the children in his team from a young age and has 100% commitment to their football development but also other aspects like wellbeing and social skills.

"During the lockdowns he has done all training via Zoom with the children and set challenges, often twice weekly, as he believes this will help them for their wellbeing - mentally and physically. He awards a player a week for ‘Zoom trainer of the week’ and leaves a trophy on their doorstep. This has really kept the children’s spirits high during an awful time.”

"What also impressed the panel greatly is that Dan goes above and beyond the call of duty for his community. He also runs the ‘Peacehaven boot locker’ where he collects second hand football boots and equipment, to enable struggling families to access items that they aren’t able to buy brand new.

“Dan also volunteers a lot of his free time to the football club for other community events, including helping the local 'feed our children and families’ initiative. Nominators told us that a lot of children and families in their area rely on free school meals and during the holidays Dan collected food and supplied the area with food parcels and hot lunches from the club's kitchen. Something which Dan and the club has continued.

“Dan is a tremendous example of the power of mutual respect for each other in our communities plus how important and central a thriving local football club can be to the people in its area.”

Dan will not only receive a trophy and the accolade of being the first Nationwide Mutual Respect Award winner but also wins tickets to an upcoming England game once fans are allowed back into stadiums. In addition, the nominator of Dan for the award will receive a signed England shirt.

Nominations are now open on Nationwide’s Facebook page for the Nationwide Mutual Respect February Award and anyone over 18 can nominate their ‘grassroots respect hero’.

To nominate either a player under the age of 18, a coach, team, parent or referee for the February award - who has made an outstanding contribution to the game or their community click here.

The nomination window for this award closes at midnight on 21 February.

Nationwide’s target is to engage with one million parents and coaches in the FA Respect programme over the next three years.