Charlton duo Thierry Small and Charlotte Newsham have been named as the club’s men’s and women’s team Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Community Champions for the 2024/25 season. The award highlights players who have made their work with communities and good causes central to their role as professional footballers.
Small, who has supported Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s (CACT) Walking Football and Upbeats programmes, as well as meeting young people attending CACT’s football holiday courses earlier this year, said: “Charlton is a community-based club and I’m always happy to help out in the community when I can. Visiting the Walking Football session was fun, and I also enjoyed attending the holiday courses because it gives me the opportunity to help and inspire the children there. I hope I can be infectious on people and it’s nice to be recognised for it.”
Defender Newsham has meanwhile supported a variety of good causes this season, notably CACT’s fundraising efforts for the 2025 Upbeats Walk and meeting players from This Girl's Ability, a charity that gives girls and young women with disabilities access to creative opportunities and sports, including football. The 24-year-old said: “It’s a privilege to win this award. I’ve engaged with people from This Girl's Ability, meeting them and seeing them at our matches has been an honour. It’s nice to give back to people who support us and the club.”
Both players were presented with their awards by PFA Community Liaison Executive Ashley Hodson, who enjoyed a professional playing career spanning 11 years, the majority of which was spent at Liverpool. Hodson said: “The amazing work Charlton does in the community doesn’t go unnoticed by the PFA, and Thierry and Charlotte are definitely examples of that. We really appreciate how the club gives back to the community, and we think a lot of people can look up to all the work Charlton do.”