Mattie Pollock and Anna Filbey have been named PFA Community Champions for the 2025/26 season for their support of the local community and the Hornets’ official charity, Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust. Both stars were fittingly presented their awards as part of recent visits out and about in the community.
From the Men’s squad, Watford FC’s centre-half Pollock took the honour following many engagements, including attending an anti-violence football tournament hosted by the Trust as part of Premier League Kicks. The players spoke to the 65 participating young people as part of a question-and-answer session, speaking about teamwork, respect, and making positive life choices. Later in the season, Mattie also joined Tom Ince at Garston Manor, a Specialist Secondary School for Autism, Learning Difficulties and Speech and Language. The visit was part of the Trust’s Premier League Inspires programme, where they shared their journeys, spoke about career pathways, and gave students an insight into the skills it takes to make it as a professional footballer.
Watford FC Women midfielder Anna Filbey has been a positive role model for many years, winning the PFA Community Champion recognition last season, in addition to a nomination at the London Football Awards in the Women’s PFA Player In The Community Champion category. This season, Anna has continued her support of the community. An example of this was her visit to Meryfield Primary School as part of the Trust’s Premier League Primary Stars PE session. At the time of the appearance, Anna said:
“You can really see how much it means to the kids when they get to meet and work with us as players … But for me, it’s just as inspiring; seeing their energy and enthusiasm reminds me why I love what I do and how lucky I am to help inspire this next generation.”
Mattie Pollock and Anna Filbey are both ambassadors for the West Herts Hospitals Charity. The charity raises vital funds to enhance patient care across West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and have been long-term collaborators and beneficiaries of the Watford FC family.
As part of the charity’s ‘Christmas Smiles’ festive gift initiative for patients who are staying in hospital over the Christmas period, Pollock and Filbey were two of the players that visited to share gifts and festive cheer. Helen Cripps, Health Play Specialist on Starfish Ward, said of the visit:
“We are so grateful to the players for taking the time to visit us. These moments of joy and the generosity of Watford FC make a significant difference to our patients staying in hospital during the festive season.”
Further to their support, Anna is now taking on a Skydive to fundraise for West Herts Hospitals Charity, you can support her by clicking HERE.
Pollock and Filbey join players from across the country’s professional football teams in gaining this recognition and is made possible by the PFA. The PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association) is the union for all current and former footballers and scholars in the Premier League, the FA Women’s Super League and the English Football Leagues. Maheta Molango, PFA CEO said of the awards:
“We know from our work with players that they feel passionately about using their influence in positive ways to drive change in their communities.
Our PFA Community Champions have shown incredible dedication to community engagement projects over the season and it’s right that they are celebrated for the impact they’ve had.
On behalf of everyone at the PFA, I extend our warmest congratulations to this season’s winners.”