Walsall FC Foundation Director, Adam Davy, has received a Special Recognition Award from the EFL for his outstanding 31 years of service to Walsall FC Foundation.
Adam has now completed his 30th full season at Walsall FC, which began as an 18-year-old Apprentice for the Foundation, then known as the Walsall FC Community Programme, in July 1994.
Each season the EFL host all Clubs and Foundations at a National meeting in London, and this year saw the introduction of a Long Service Award for personnel in the EFL Network.
Two long service awards were presented to Phil Mason of Bolton Wanderers and to Adam. The award recognises their contribution to the EFL network, specifically for the work carried out by Foundations up and down the country.
Adam said: “I am so proud to continue to represent Walsall FC and was extremely surprised, and delighted, to be recognised with the award by the EFL.
“We will all continue to work hard and make sure that the Club remains integral to the Walsall community.
“I love the fact that our Club can change people’s lives for the better and make such a difference across Walsall.”
Adam’s initial roles in the 1990s included running the Community Programme’s football projects, helping to coordinate the Junior Saddlers and even sweeping the stands after home games. Over the years, his role developed and Adam helped to grow the scheme as well as becoming a coach for Walsall FC Academy.
Continuing to develop and enhance the Foundation provision, Adam became the Academy Lead Foundation Coach, overseeing the U7 to U12 age groups, and also coached teams in the Foundation Player Development programme.
During his time with the Academy, Adam signed and coached talented youngsters such as Sam Mantom, Jamie Paterson, Mal Benning, Dylan Thomas and Liam Kinsella to name a handful.
“I’ve always had a passion for coaching and have been lucky to complete a number of qualifications over the years,” Adam explains. “This allowed me to work with players on Soccer Schools, right through to the Academy.
“It’s always a pleasure to see children improve their skills, from those learning and playing for the first time to those that excel at a high level.
“Seeing players you have signed and coached in the Academy go on and play for the first-team fills you with pride. Coaching is all about supporting a player to improve and putting a smile on their face.”
Following his progression through the ranks to Foundation Manager, Adam moved up to become Head of Scheme in 2014, following club legend and Foundation Founder Mick Kearns’ retirement.
“I have so much to thank Mick Kearns for,” said Adam. “I turned up for a job interview with Mick fresh out of College and started the following week as an Apprentice Coach. I remember my first wage was £36.50 per week and paid weekly by the PFA.”
“Mick made sure that we always worked hard, made a difference and represented the Club as professionally and correctly as we could. I have been very lucky to work in professional football for my entire career and have loved every minute so far.”
The journey came full-circle as Mick Kearns also surprised Adam with a Special Recognition award at Walsall FC Foundation’s 35th Anniversary Dinner, marking 30 Years of Service with the charity.
Adam added: “I take great pleasure in seeing the Foundation develop and create so many opportunities for local people. We help support residents with football programmes, health & wellbeing improvement, employment projects and many other programmes that change lives through football.
“We have a great team of staff within the Foundation who continue to carry out our work and help us go from strength to strength.
“I just start to feel old when I am employing people I used to coach when I first started at Walsall FC, or those very first participants who are now bringing their children to activities!”
Walsall FC Foundation, led by Adam, continues to grow and develop new programmes, with over 30 projects currently being delivered across the community.
Walsall FC has a proud reputation as a Community Club and the Foundation plays its part in ensuring that Walsall FC continues to have a positive social impact across the whole Borough.
You can read more about the Foundation’s work throughout Walsall in the 2024 Annual Report here.
