At half-time during Hull City’s fixture against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday 21st March, we were delighted to welcome Callum Fox-East, who has been recognised by the Tigers Trust with the Premier League’s More Than a Game Community Captain accolade.
As part of Premier League's More Than A Game campaign, the League has honoured more than 100 Community Captains individuals nominated by Premier League, EFL, and National League clubs for their contributions to their local communities through Premier League-funded programmes and the Trust is delighted to put forward Callum for this award,
Callum first engaged with the Premier League Kicks programme at the Hull University at the Tigers Trust in 2015. He initially attended simply to “try it out,” presenting as shy and lacking confidence.
However, through consistent involvement and encouragement from staff, he became a highly committed participant, attending more than 200 sessions and taking part in over 600 hours of delivery.
As his confidence grew, Callum built strong friendships, developed trust with staff, and became known for supporting others. He frequently volunteered within sessions and emerged as a positive influence on those around him.
His dedication led him to volunteer beyond the Kicks programme, eventually becoming a Match Ball Assistant on Hull City matchdays. In this role, he demonstrated exceptional reliability and professionalism, achieving perfect attendance.
Callum also played a mentoring role, supporting a participant from Inclusive Kicks designed for young people with disabilities and helping them progress into the Match Ball Assistant position. This experience further developed his leadership and coaching skills while empowering another young person to grow.
In 2020, he earned a funded place on the Tigers Trust’s NCS Summer Programme, completing the full course and contributing to the organisation of a football tournament aimed at raising awareness of mental health and physical activity.
Callum later joined the Tigers Trust Pathways employability Programme, which supported his successful application to become a casual staff member delivering Kicks sessions. He now works across several programmes while studying for a USW Coaching Degree delivered through the Tigers Trust.
In summer 2024, he was selected for an international coaching placement in Salerno, Italy through the Turing Scheme, an experience that further enhanced his confidence, independence, and coaching ability.
Despite now working as a casual staff member, Callum continues to volunteer, regularly supporting the Hull City Fan Zones on matchdays. His journey from a shy young participant to a confident and valued member of staff highlights the long‑term impact of Premier League Kicks.
Today, he stands as a visible and relatable role model for current participants.
Head of Community, Engagement and Safeguarding Kayleigh Jackson commented: “When Callum first started attending Premier League Kicks, he was coming from an area with challenges where sessions could sometimes be difficult and behaviour wasn’t always positive. Despite this, Callum consistently showed commitment by attending week after week. With the right support and positive role models, his confidence grew significantly. It has been incredibly rewarding to see his journey from a shy participant into a reliable volunteer, staff member, and now a positive role model for young people engaging in the programme.”
During the interval of Hull City’s Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday, Callum was honoured on the pitch with a Community Captain trophy, a pennant, and a captain's armband in front of over 22,000 fans at the MKM Stadium!
Keep up the great work Callum!
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