CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 10 2023 20 Established in November 2017, Dundee FC Community Trust uses the power of football and the Dundee FC name to inspire and support people in Dundee and across the globe. In 2019, Greg Fenton joined the organisation as Community Trust Manager and was appointed as Chief Executive Officer just three years later in 2022. He has since transformed the charity. “The power of football cannot be underestimated; just knowing Dundee FC cares can be a huge source of motivation for individuals facing difficulties in their lives. We’re using the ‘football effect’ to promote health, education, and inclusion. We strive to build a more egalitarian and inclusive society by focusing on the United Nations sustainable goals.” Within the organisation there exist three distinct pillars, these being ‘Criminal Justice’, ‘Education & Wellbeing’, and ‘Soccer’. Today, Dundee FC Dundee FC Community Trust (DFCCT) is the official charity of Dundee Football Club, working the Club to deliver change and transform lives in the city of Dundee. We find out more from Trust CEO, Greg Fenton, as he is crowned Spectator Sports CEO of the Year 2023 – Eastern Scotland. Community Trust aims to improve the quality of life of children and youth through its Education & Wellbeing and Sport programmes, viewing them as an essential tool to contribute to social inclusion. With a tagline which shouts ‘Deliver Change & Transform Lives’, this is exactly what Dundee FC Community does, each and every day. “My approach since I came onboard is to make Dundee FC Community Trust accessible to all, and that is one of the reasons why we have a new Community Office at the newly built facility,” says Greg. “Being CEO of a charity and General Manager of a professional football club can be challenging, but I’m very proud of what we have achieved. The mindset of both organisations has changed, and firmly looking towards the future and being a community-inclusive club.” Having previously worked in youth justice after completing his degree at Dundee University, Greg became CEO of the Charity and then General Manager of a professional club. When he first began at DFCCT, it was apparent that there were very few facilities. During the Covid period, Greg made it his mission and a strategic objective for the Trust to have its own facilities, meeting with the local college to create and deliver a fantastic partnership which resulted in a newly built facility, plans in place to build an astro-turf pitch, as well as access to indoor and outdoor space for the community programmes to run. Having these facilities has resulted in the Trust having the biggest football holiday camps ever, which in turn has seen more and more children having access to fun activities. There are even developments taking place regarding the women’s game and the Trust has introduced the start of its girls’ academy – something that Greg believes is hugely important both strategically but also morally. Greg freely admits to being very ambitious and wanting to be the best version of himself and, as a self-confessed ‘modern leader’ where working as a team in a calm and friendly environment delivers the best results, he is determined to support individuals around him on their own career paths, finding it just as rewarding as creating a career path for himself. “There is no right way to manage,” he effuses. “You have to manage each individual and the team of what is brought to you – a very person-centred approach! I’m a big believer that by working together, you can achieve great things. A CEO needs to be team player; I’m more than willing to roll up my sleeves and help any department out, but I’m also confident at managing a leading a team in the right direction, creating a strategy to move forward.” Recently, in recognition of his sterling work in moving the Trust forward, as well as his proactive approach in empowering everyone to strive for their goals, Greg was named Spectator Sports CEO of the Year 2023 – Eastern Scotland in the CEO of the Year Awards 2023. Now, as the future beckons, Greg is looking forward to the things still to come, and comments, “It’s a fantastic privilege to lead both the Charity and Club, and it’s great to see both organisations going in the right direction with ambitious plans. I do have plans to progress further, but at the age of 33, I’m taking every day as a learning day and growing as an individual!” Contact Details Company: Dundee FC Community Trust Contact: Greg Fenton Web Address: www. dfccommunitytrust.org.uk It’s All in the Game!
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