Foundation Chairman, Brendon Batson, tells players: ‘We are here to help you’

As an independent charity, The Players Foundation’s primary mission is to offer support to current and former professional footballers who find themselves in need.

Among the wide range of support services offered by the Foundation, grants are available to beneficiaries who are experiencing severe hardship and meet the required criteria.  

Brendon Batson OBE was appointed Chairman of The Players Foundation in 2021 and, as a renowned ex-player himself, knows how important it is for professional footballers to have a safety net: “The Foundation is here to help at times of difficulty and it’s vital that players know that we want to hear from them if they need support.

“We can’t do everything, but we can assess players’ needs and offer advice on the range of funds that we have available. If we’re not able to help directly, we specialise in referring potential beneficiaries to other organisations that can offer the appropriate support.”

The Foundation is currently focussed on strengthening its relationships with the network of former player associations in both The Premier League and the EFL. “Players often stay in touch when they’ve finished and this gives us an excellent opportunity to access a huge number of ex-pros,” says Brendon.

“My message is a simple one: We are here to help you. So, if you’re having difficulties or you know of any former teammates who are having problems, please get in touch with us because the Foundation is committed to supporting you in any way we can.”