Congratulations to Jed Wallace who has been awarded the PFA’s Player in the Community Award for the Championship for his incredible off-the-field efforts supporting our local community in 2024.
The award recognises players who have made an outstanding contribution to the community.
A dedicated army of West Bromwich Albion supporters set up All Access Albion, a new disabled accessibility fan group intent on representing the needs of the club’s disabled fans. Jed signed up as a men’s first-team ambassador for the group who are already shaping policy on accessibility and implement improvements to The Hawthorns.
Rob Lake, Albion Foundation Director said: “Jed’s a fantastic role model and an example for all players. In all my years of working in community, which is 25 years, he’s up there with the best. He’s just a really decent, good person and he genuinely cares.
“He’s able to portray that with the other players as well and he goes above and beyond. Many a time, I’ve had conversations with him where he wanted to do something additional to what we ask of the players, and to have someone like that is fantastic.
“He always makes people feel special. He listens, genuinely listens and is really positive any time he does anything for the Foundation.”
The Access All Albion project aligns with Jed’s values and passions for the game. When asked about the initiative, he said: “I am passionate about all supporters having the access they require to attend football matches.
“During my time at the club I have been blown away by its community work through The Albion Foundation, and teaming up with All Access Albion is another important step in ensuring the needs of all supporters are considered.
“The Albion Foundation do an amazing job at this club and all the players are really proud to be able to help the Foundation out.
“I was very proud to sign for Albion and to then be made captain, so I’m proud to work with the Foundation who do an amazing job. Rob Lake who runs the Foundation is outstanding, it’s one of the best Foundations in the country, so I'm very proud to be a part of it.
“Myself and all the players are always more than happy to give up the odd afternoon – a couple of hours is nothing to us, something I’m more than happy to do. We’re lucky enough to be able to give a little bit back to the local community.”
As well as supporting Access All Albion, Jed is also a champion of the club’s disability teams.
Eesa Amjid, WBA Blind & England Blind player met with Wallace at the Albion training ground earlier on in the season and introduced him to blind football.
Amjid says it was a wonderful experience to meet the Baggies captain, stating: “It was great to meet Jed. It was a very good experience for myself. Jed was brilliant. It was great to have a player who’s accomplished so much as a professional player in the Championship try his hand at our game.
“He gave it a go and he did well. It’s a very hard sport to play, especially if you’re sighted. It’s difficult to put on a blindfold and get used to your surroundings, so he did very well.
“It helps us massively, it gives us exposure – it's great that high-profile players want to get involved. It was brilliant that he came along to the IBSA games and supported the lads too.”
