Foundation coach Katie Gibson named Community Captain for Premier League campaign

Foundation of Light coach Katie Gibson was presented with a Premier League Community Captain award by women’s football legend Jill Scott.

Katie was given the accolade as recognition for her ambassadorship for female football within the Foundation of Light and across Sunderland.

Presentations to Community Captains are taking place at more than 100 clubs across the Premier League, EFL and National League as part of the Premier League's ‘More Than A Game’ campaign.

Katie has been selected as one of those at the heart of community programmes, contributing to football and society, standing out for her passion for the game.

The Sports Development Officer started as a football scholar at the Foundation of Light in 2018, combining studying and playing for three years and graduating with a BTEC Level 3 in Sports Coaching.

While a scholar, Katie volunteered as a coach with the Foundation of Light and continued to pursue a career in sports coaching after being employed on a casual contract.

The 22-year-old returned to the Foundation of Light on a permanent contract as a Sports Development Officer where she has delivered on a range of programmes, from the FA-funded Wildcats sessions for girls aged 5-11, to the high-performance Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) group.

Within her role at Sunderland AFC’s official charity, Katie works as an ambassador for female football, helping to innovate the organisation’s girls’ football programmes.

While delivering an Emerging Talent Centre session at Downhill Football Hub, Katie was surprised by another Foundation of Light graduate and Sunderland native – Jill Scott.

The 161-cap England legend and trustee of Sunderland AFC’s official charity was joined by Washington-born former Premier League referee Rebecca Welch to celebrate Katie at an ETC session dedicated to the ‘More Than A Game’ campaign.

“It’s a massive surprise,” said Katie.

"When we were kids, sometimes we wouldn't even get 11 players for the pitch, and now you look behind me and you've got so many girls here just wanting to play football.

“The standard just gets better and better every year.”