Each year, one of Watford Football Club’s home league fixtures is dedicated to the Club’s official registered charity, Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust. This year, the fixture on 21st March 2026, Watford versus Leicester City in the EFL Championship, is the chosen match and there promises to be a host of engagement and promotion throughout. All of this is in aid of supporting the communities surrounding Watford FC and ultimately helping the Hornets’ charity continue to act on their vision of healthier, happier, stronger communities. Here’s the lowdown on all that is going on and how you can get involved:
Saying hello to our staff and volunteers could make you a winner!
Our staff and volunteers will be around the grounds and in the Family Zones speaking with supporters and selling raffle tickets. The £5 raffle tickets will see one lucky winner walk away with half the takings, so the more that take part, the higher the prize pot! The winner will be drawn on the pitch at half-time. Raffle tickets will be branded, with physical copies sold by our trusted staff and volunteers only, so please make sure to check accreditation first.
As a match-going fan, you can also help shape our future community work. As part of a potential opportunity to deliver a new project via the Premier League’s Fans’ Fund, our staff will also have tablets to ask supporters two questions about what health/social concerns we should be focusing on next. We look forward to hearing from you.
Those wishing to share their thoughts ahead of the matchday can see the survey here
Community Activities.
- Much like many Watford FC home matchdays, we’ll be at Westfield Academy pre-match for the first half of our matchday package – a football session with our qualified coaches, with the children then coming across to Vicarage Road Stadium for the Hornets’ game. On this occasion, we have regular supporters of ours, Bishop’s Stortford Community Football Club joining us.
- There will be a presentation as part of the Premier League’s More Than A Game campaign, highlighting the support the Premier League provides to football at every level, helping young people and communities to thrive. The presentation, which also coincides with the celebration of 20 years of the Premier League Kicks programme, will see us award our Community Captain. This is being awarded to a special member of our community who has inspired many young people through Premier League Kicks, delivered by the Trust locally in Hertfordshire and Harrow. The Premier League Kicks programme uses the power of football and sport to help young people reach their potential.
- The final of the Joy of moving half-time penalty shoot-out will be held at half-time, as Samuel Ryder Academy take on Holy Rood Primary School. Make sure to give both teams and players a big cheer, as they have done fantastically to get to this point.
Part of the Action.
Signage and communication around the game will spread the word that Saturday 21st March is Trust Awareness Matchday. With thanks to Club partner BOXT for supporting us with LED signage.
Another thank you to Watford FC caterers Gather and Gather, who are donating a percentage of matchday kiosk spend to the Trust.
Players will be in specially branded yellow tops during the pre-match warm-up, there may even be a feature on the home kit during the game, keep your eyes peeled! Selected items from the match, including the unique match-worn home shirts with Trust logo featured, will be available for auction after the matchday.
We’ll also have staff, volunteers, trustees, partners, beneficiaries, and guests, in attendance at the game, with thanks to our headline sponsors, Skechers, for providing use of Skechers Comfort Lounge and the Grill.
£1 could change a life.
A specific link for donations on Trust Awareness Matchday has been created and can be accessed by clicking HERE or scan the QR code below:
If everyone attending the game donates just £1, we’d have enough to fund a whole year of Empower delivery. Using physical activity and wellbeing workshops, Empower supports 9-12-years-olds with a mild to moderate mental health diagnosis or individuals who show poor mental wellbeing. Through weekly sessions the young people learn to understand and manage emotions, increase their resilience and gain a further support network. See below feedback on the impact of the programme:
“This has been life-changing for us as a family since the loss of my son and my cancer diagnosis in 2023. He has refused many therapists, so you definitely have truly gifted and talented staff that keeps the kids happy to return! Well done. ” – Empower Parent
Joining us in hospitality?
A silent auction will be hosted by our auction company Superstars throughout the hospitality lounges. As part of the auction, unique and exclusive Watford FC and luxury items and experiences are up for grabs. Get bidding and one of them could be yours.
So, however you show your support to Trust Awareness Matchday, thank you for playing your part in helping build healthier, happier, stronger communities.