The Swansea City Supporters’ Trust Lifetime Achievement Award has been presented at the club’s awards night since 2007.
It has recognised many of the people that have done so much for our club and our supporters. While we have occasionally chosen to recognise club employees, such as in 2016 when it was presented to club legend and Trust President Alan Curtis MBE, we have traditionally focused on recognising those people that have given up their time and energy for no financial award, all for their love of the Swans.
It is wonderful to see the return of the awards night and dinner at the stadium this evening and the Trust is delighted to announce that our recipient for the 2021/2022 Lifetime Achievement Award is former Trust Board member and current secretary of the Swansea City Disabled Supporters’ Association (DSA), Catherine Dyer.
Cath (seen here with her recent EFL Supporter of the Year Award) was a highly valued Swansea City Supporters’ Trust Board member between 2011 and last summer where, amongst a myriad of other responsibilities, she acted as a liaison with Swansea City on events, press conferences, Welsh language and supporter initiatives.
Cath was also instrumental in the establishment of the Swansea City Disabled Supporters’ Association (DSA), which she is still involved with as secretary. She has always sought to advance the interests of fans through her work, making these organisations more accessible and inclusive.
Cath’s work with the DSA also covers social events – which proved really important during the pandemic as coffee mornings were organised to help keep spirits high and members engaged. Thanks to the ongoing support of the club, members also regularly get the chance to meet Russell Martin, current and former players, and other senior club officials.
Alongside that, Cath and the DSA have collected gifts for underprivileged children at Christmas, created a sensory room at the club’s stadium and arranged ‘quiet hours’ at the club shop to enable DSA members to have the best shopping experience.
Cath is a very busy mother of three, including two children with disabilities, and has worked tirelessly to ensure that underrepresented supporters have a voice and can influence their experiences of following Swansea City.
The Lifetime Achievement Award that Cath is receiving this evening makes it an amazing hat-trick of awards this season following nominations by both the club and the Supporters’ Trust.
Earlier this year Cath won the Football Supporters’ Association Jacqui Forster Memorial Award for her incredible efforts in helping and supporting her fellow fans.
And last week Cath won the prestigious EFL Supporter of the Year Award at the Grosvenor Hotel in London as recognition of one individual who has gone above and beyond in support of their club.
Swansea City is very much a community club and Cath is the beating heart of that community. She embodies everything that is great about our amazing club and these awards are in recognition of everything she has done for our supporters over the past decade or so.
Commendations
Catherine Thomas, head of fan engagement at Swansea City said: “Cath is the most hard-working, caring and dedicated supporter, and optimises the attitude of ‘putting others first’. Without her, this club and the community wouldn’t shine as brightly as it does.”
Club legend and Trust President Alan Curtis MBE, added: “I have known Cath for many years and she is tireless in her support and efforts for the club and especially for the DSA. She is a remarkable person.”
Club Ambassador Lee Trundle said: “Despite having her own family, the time and effort she puts in is amazing. A caring person and a lovely lady.”
Dave Dalton, Chair of the Supporters’ Trust concluded: “We are all delighted to see Cath receive this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. I am always in awe of how she manages to juggle her busy home life with everything else she did for the Trust and now for the DSA and the club. Nothing is ever too much trouble for her and everyone at the Swans Trust would like to congratulate Cath on not only this wonderful achievement but on all her awards that she has richly deserved this season. Llongyfarchiadau, Cath.”
Swansea City Supporters’ Trust
3rd May 2022
