First graduate of Jill Dando News, 23, becomes one of Britain’s youngest football club Board members
By Joel, 15, Jill Dando News
The first graduate of Jill Dando News, Alex Crowther has become one of the youngest ever football club Board members - after starting at his home town club aged just 16.
Alex, 23, starts his role today at Weston-super-Mare AFC after starting his journey while in the final year at Priory Community School Academy in the town.
The football club is now booming with over 400 players across their 18 teams and huge success. Their men’s team has just won promotion and will be in the same league as Yeovil this year which nearly won promotion to the Premier League in recent years. Weston also has a huge population of over 100,000 and expanding.
While at Priory, Alex helped drive through the creation of Jill Dando News in 2016 into the former BBC TV presenter’s childhood school Worle Community School Academy. Jill Dando News has now expanded to see hundreds of children aged 8 to 18 find and publish good news in the style and memory of Jill.
Alex himself has since had a meteoric rise with roles across the club at all levels. During that time he has also secured a First Class Broadcast Journalism degree.
He also helped to run communications across the hugely successful The Priory Learning Trust including his former school for seven years.
Alex was also one of the founding members of Jill Dando News where he is now a patron alongside Nigel Dando, Nick Ross and a host of others. He has also run other charity and help groups across the town.
The club is booming and now has have 400+ players across 18 teams
- Record crowds for the Men's first team as they won promotion back to the National League South
- The Women's team merging with Weston Mendip FC, allowing them to provide more opportunities for girls/women in the community to play football
- The Walking Football teams winning literary everything they enter
- Record attendances at the Academy trials, resulting in an outstanding intake of players
- Stadium redevelopment plans to secure the long-term future of the Club
He takes up his role alongside fellow new Board member Simon Panes who will continue to lead the Club’s outstanding football Academy which comprises of 250+ players across 13 age groups.
Alex said: “I’m proud to be joining the Board of my home town football club at this exciting time in its history.
“I still have a huge amount to learn but I am delighted to be doing that at Weston-super-Mare AFC, continuing to work alongside great people, in partnership with our fans and the wider community.”
“I’m really looking forward to playing a part in shaping the long-term future of the Club.”
Alex Crowther first joined the Club in 2016 as Media Manager and returned in 2018 as Marketing & Communications Manager.
Alongside his work as a Director, he will continue to oversee all external Club communications working with Media Manager Liam Drury and will team up with Academy Administrator Bridget Bolland to relaunch the Club’s official charity ‘Seagulls in the Community’.
Weston-super-Mare AFC Managing Director, Oli Bliss, said: “I have worked alongside Alex and Simon for many years now and I am pleased that they are joining the Board.
“We have been talking to them both about joining the Board since the start of this year, so I am happy this has now been formalised.
“Simon brings a wealth of experience and professionalism, and Alex is beginning his journey into the business world and brings youth and new ideas to the table.
“This now enables the club to start the restructure of the Board, giving each individual more responsibility for managing each of their relevant departments.”
Shane Dean, Founding Editor of Jill Dando News and the Good News Post, said: “:Alex has super talent, ideas and bags of passion and all our Patrons, team and reporters are delighted at this news. He brings success and an infectious positive atmosphere wherever he goes.”
For more stories from Jill Dando News visit: http://www.goodnewspost.co.uk
