Tom Mann Foundation

Our Story:

The Tom Mann Foundation was established in memory of a truly remarkable individual—a passionate footballer, dedicated member of the community, and beloved friend. Tom Mann tragically passed away at the age of 27 in an accident while on holiday with friends, but his legacy lives on through the work of this foundation.

Tom’s love for football began before he could even walk. On the day he was born, he was pictured with a football in his hospital bed. From that moment on, football was his life. As soon as he could walk, he was kicking a ball, and by the age of 6, he was already playing with his dad in the garden. Tom’s commitment to the game was unwavering. One cold November night, while playing with his dad in the dark, Tom famously replied, "Come on, Dad, just five more minutes — you know football is my life." That passion for the game never wavered, and it stayed with him until his final moments.

Tom grew up in Ketton, Rutland, where he played competitive football for Ketton FC from the age of 6 through to the Men's First Team. Over the years, he also played for Stamford AFC, Deeping Rangers, Bourne Town, and Huntingdon FC. His football journey continued into university, where he played for Nottingham University while pursuing a law degree. After graduating, Tom began a promising legal career with a London firm, all the while continuing to play for CSKA FC, a local team in Clapham, London. Since his passing, Tom’s former team, and one of their biggest league rivals have both retired the number 10 shirt in his honour.

Those who played alongside Tom describe him as not just a great footballer, but a truly exceptional person. His teammates recall how his talent on the pitch was matched only by his character off it:

“It’s rare you come across someone in life who doesn’t have a bad bone in their body. Tom Mann was exactly that—the lad was a diamond.”

“He was the greatest player I ever had the pleasure of playing alongside. And, as we played in our cup final in the shadow of the Olympic stadium, I understood how much of a leader he was. Listening to him talk at half time, chatting to each player individually, offering a bit of advice or a compliment, made me wonder why we hadn’t handed him the reins sooner. It was his first match as captain and we ended up winning 5-0.”

“I’m immensely proud to say I wore the same shirt as Tom, not least as it means I didn’t need to defend against him.”

Tom was also an avid football fan. A lifelong Arsenal supporter and Lionel Messi admirer, he could often be found at Arsenal home games or traveling to Barcelona to catch Messi in action. His love for Arsenal was so profound that he even chose to live in the iconic Highbury Stadium in his final years.

Tom’s impact went beyond the pitch. He was deeply involved with local charities, organising food collections, charity runs, and coffee mornings for causes such as Age UK. His generous spirit and love for his community continue to inspire those who knew him.

After Tom’s passing, his family and friends knew that his legacy should be one that empowers the next generation of footballers, nurtures talent, and supports local grassroots football. The Tom Mann Foundation was born out of this belief, with a mission to make the beautiful game more accessible to all.

Our Mission:

We are committed to empowering grassroots football by providing support and funding to nurture talent, build community, and ensure that the joy of football is available to everyone. Through the Foundation, we aim to contribute to the construction of training facilities, as well as providing local teams with equipment, kits, and other necessities.

Tom’s story continues to inspire us every day, and we invite you to join us in carrying forward his legacy. Your support—whether big or small—will help us make a lasting impact on local football communities, just as Tom did throughout his life.

Please give whatever you can to support this worthy cause and help us continue Tom's mission of making football accessible, inclusive, and empowering for all.