With a new year often comes new opportunities and changes, and the Foundation is no different to that. After 13.5 long years as part of the Stevenage FC family, Daryl Smith left us on 10th January to take on a new career challenge working in education with young people that need the most support.
Daryl initially joined the Foundation as a full-time member of staff back in June 2011 shortly after the Clubs famous playoff win at Old Trafford, taking us up into League One.
Initially a community coach, Daryl would work alongside club legends such as Jon Ashton and Mark Roberts, delivering the Aspire programme into local schools as well as delivering on soccer camps and leading matchday engagement with mascots.
Over time, Daryl progressed into many roles, notable Assistant Head of Foundation, Head of Community, and most recently Head of Education & School Sport.
During his time with us, he has mentored and developed a whole generation of staff that have become part of the Foundation team, supporting either more senior members joining to develop new areas, or developing and teaching young apprentices what it truly means to make a difference in the local community.
If you speak to any Foundation or indeed Club member of staff, they will likely have a story to tell about Daryl, his larger than life personality, infectious enthusiasm for his work, and willingness to go above and beyond time and time again has made him a true club legend, who should be remembered as a pillar for which our reputation as a true community club has been built.
On a personal note, going from working with Daryl on disability football in Hertfordshire before I started with the Foundation in 2016, I’ve seen the impact that Daryl has had from afar and up close. The Foundation in 2025, would not be what it is without Daryl’s effort and passion, and whilst we are all devastated to see him leave, we are delighted for him that he’s going on to turn his passion of making young peoples lives better, into a new and focused career.
For the tens of thousands of people that Daryl has supported through the Foundation and Stevenage FC over the years, I want to say thank you to Daryl and we wish you all the very best for the future.
The change does not stop there, and we’d like to take the opportunity to wish Rochelle Wilshaw the very best as she departs for new opportunities working within the NHS.
Rochelle joined us during the pandemic as part of the Government kickstart programme, and was one of only a few of that group who become a full-time member of staff with the team. She’s been a constant support and presence in the day to day operation of the Foundation, and no doubt if you’ve had a enquiry or needed help with something to do with our work in the community, there’s a good chance Rochelle has been there to help.
After 3 and a half years, she ventures onto a fantastic new opportunity, still making a difference but now as part of the NHS. Thank you Rochelle.
With Daryl and Rochelle’s departures, we’ve had a rejig of the team here at the Foundation, and I’m delighted to announce that Dani Toyn will be stepping into the role of Head of Programmes overseeing our education, youth engagement, community cohesion, and club related projects.
Dani is joined by Carly Weston (Head of Business Operations) and Hannah Marsh (Head of Health & Wellbeing) former the charity’s senior leadership team.
Additionally, congratulations to Luke Wilkins (Primary Education Manager), Lewis Sykes (Positive Pathways Manager), and Melissa Edwards (Community Engagement Manager) who have all been promoted into more senior roles to support Dani with delivering our vision of an active, healthy, and positive life for all in our community.
Finally, I’d like to welcome Ben Leader to the team who joined us just before Christmas. Ben joins us with a wealth of experience of supporting young people in the education sector, and will be heading up our Premier League Kicks project and supporting our alternative provision work in his role as Youth Engagement Officer.
We are certain that this new look team will continue to deliver the support our community needs to the places that need it most, and please do keep an eye out for some of our new plans for 2025 in the coming weeks.
