Sophie Dales Spearheads ‘More Than A Game’ Community Initiative

Leeds United has named Sophie Dales as the 2025 Community Captain in recognition of her unwavering commitment and invaluable contribution to the local community and the game of football.

Clubs across various leagues are currently celebrating the ‘More Than A Game’ campaign, which highlights the positive impact of Premier League investment into communities and clubs at every level of the sport.

The Premier League is investing £1.6 billion into wider football and communities (between 2022 and 2025) to support the game across England and Wales. This world-leading funding into clubs, communities, and facilities continues to positively impact and inspire millions of people.

As part of the ‘More Than A Game’ initiative, the Premier League is celebrating more than 100 Community Captains – individuals nominated by EFL, Premier League, and National League clubs for their outstanding contribution to their local community through Premier League-funded programs.

Sophie Dales has been chosen as Leeds United‘s Community Captain this year, in recognition of her incredible commitment to the local community and her tireless efforts to go above and beyond for those she interacts with.

Upon receiving the award, Sophie Dales expressed her immense pride and gratitude, stating: “I cannot put into words what the Community Captain award means to me. To be honored with such an award gives me a huge sense of pride, it all feels like a dream. I really do feel very privileged to be part of a fantastic Foundation and Club.”

She continued, “One of my main goals in life is to help others, especially those in need, and to make sure everyone within the community feels a sense of happiness even if it’s just for a split second. I would like to take this opportunity to thank from the bottom of my heart all involved in making my dreams become a reality.”

Leeds United is proud to celebrate the achievements of their chosen Community Captain, Sophie Dales, recognizing the instrumental role she plays week in and week out at the Leeds United Foundation. Sophie started working with the club’s official charity in 2021, and has taken on more and more responsibility each year, putting in extra hours and offering extra support for the participants and other staff members.

Sophie works across a number of the Leeds United Foundation’s Health and Wellbeing initiatives, and her knowledge, kind nature, and ability to support individual needs have resulted in huge success across various programs. From holding circuit sessions under the Don Revie stand and supporting people with mobility issues in local hospitals, to working across 16 care homes through the Foundation on a weekly basis, nothing is ever too much for Sophie to take on.

Frances Milner, CEO of the Leeds United Foundation, expressed the organization’s immense pride in recognizing Sophie as their Community Captain. She stated, “Her unwavering dedication, passion, and commitment to the Health and Wellbeing team have made a significant impact on so many lives. Sophie embodies the values of the Leeds United Foundation, going above and beyond to support those in our community. The recognition is a testament to her hard work, and we are delighted to celebrate her outstanding contribution.”

Premier League Director of Community Nick Perchard emphasized the importance of recognizing and highlighting the positive impact of work within local communities, stating, “Success on the pitch enables the Premier League to share unparalleled investment into communities and football at all levels across England and Wales.”