Patrons to be Proud of

Our team at NNS.ORG.UK have been incredibly fortunate and humbled by the huge support we have been provided by some incredible people. These people carry our message further than we can hope for and we can't tell them enough, Thank you xx

STEPHEN MYLER 

Stephen Myler is third on the Premiership's all-time list of point scorers with 1,697 points, has played more than 300 times for Saints including a man-of-the-match display in the dramatic 2014 Aviva Premiership final triumph over Saracens.

​After an amazing career at Saints Stephen moved to London Irish and then onto Ospreys in 2020. 
NNS were very proud to have been Stephens nominated charity for his testimonial year at Saints in 2017. 
So incredibly proud to have Stephen helping raise money ans awareness as a patron of NNS

​CHRISTIAN DAY 

We are so proud to have have Christian on board as a patron of NNS. 

Christian retired from professional rugby at the conclusion of the 2017/18 season to embark on a new full-time position as RPA Player Liaison Officer.
Christian made 226 appearances for Northampton Saints from 2008 to 2018, winning the Premiership title in 2013/14. He also had successful stints with Sale Sharks and Stade Francais.
Niamh's Next Step were one of Christians nominated charities for his 2018 testimonial year at Northampton Saint.

TONY DISCIPLINE

We are delighted to welcome former Eastenders star Tony Disipline onboard as a charity patron of Niamh's Next Step.

Tony regularly supports and attends our charity functions and has raised money for Niamh's Next Step in the past. As well as acting Tony is a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade. 

We really are proud to have Tony as a patron

ALEX WALLER & TEIMANA HARRISON 

​We are very proud to have Northampton Saints forwards Alex Waller and Teimana Harrison as patrons of our charity. Alex has been involved since 2016 with Teimana coming on board to help raise money and awareness in 2018. So proud to have these guys involved xx

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS

Billy Joe has been a huge supporter of our charity for many years and its so great to have him on the team helping to raise money and awareness to help fight childhood cancer. 

Billy Joe proudly represented GB at the 2008 Olympics turning professional shortly afterwards.  He is former British, Commonwealth, European and 2 x World boxing champion. You can follow Billy Joe on twitter at @bjsaunders_

JOHANNAH DEAKIN

Johannah followed and supported our charity closely over the years and it was really is great to have her involved helping raise money and awareness of our charity and the childhood cancer Neuroblastoma.  Johannah a mummy to an amazing family including Lottie, Felicite, Phoebe, Daisy, Doris, Ernest and of course the amazing Louis Tomlinson from the incredible One Direction. 
​
​Johannah very sadly passed away in December 2016 but she will always be in our hearts.

James Grayson 

We are so pleased to have one of the countries top fly half's James Grayson come on board as a patron for our charity. 
James helped the Wanderers lift the Premiership Rugby A League trophy in both 2017 and 2018, defeating Gloucester United and Exeter Braves in two consecutive finals.
But it was under new director of rugby Chris Boyd that James really got his chance; the No.10 made 18 appearances in the 2018/19 season, scoring his first senior try against Bristol Bears in the Premiership Rugby Cup, claiming that competition’s Breakthrough Player award on the way to helping Northampton lift the trophy – the Club’s first silverware in five years.
International honours came Grayson’s way in 2015 and 2016 as he represented England at Under-17 and Under-18 levels respectively before helping England win the Under-18s Five Nations with an impressive 21 points in the final match against Wales.
James is an outstanding young man who we are so proud to have involved

PETER DALE

Pete Dale (aka Tubes from Soccer AM) as part of our amazing team of trustees. Pete has been part of the Soccer AM team on Sky Sports since the show began and we are so pleased he has now joined our team as a patron of Niamh's Next Step. Pete has been a big supporter of the charity through mutual friends and we delighted he has agreed to patron Niamh's Next Step. 

You can see Pete in action on Soccer AM every Saturday morning during the football season and you can follow him on twitter @TubesSoccerAM 

SHANE & GILLIAN FILAN

Shane & Gillian Filan have been patrons of Niamh's Next Step from the beginning. Before they split up Westlife recorded a special acoustic version of their No 1 hit 'Unbreakable' for Niamh's funeral service and it's something we will never forget.  

Shane and Gillian have supported us from the start of our fundraising to get Niamh to the US and it is amazing to have their continued support.  An amazing husband and wife team joining our amazing team. You can read more about Shane's record breaking career and his new solo ventures at http://shanefilan.com/ Twitter @ShaneFilan @Gillian_Filan 

JOSH CASSIDY

Josh is a Canadian Paralympian with many achievements to his name. Josh was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma (the same cancer we lost Niamh to) in the spine and abdomen weeks after birth but amazingly beat it, leaving his legs partially paralysed.  Despite this Josh has gone on to become the World’s fastest marathon – 1:18:25 Boston 2012, Winner Boston Marathon 2012 and London Marathon  2010, Canadian Record Holder: 1500m / 5000m / 10000m & Marathon and has won over 75 medals won around the world. Josh visited Niamh in hospital just before the London Marathon 2012 and his medal is hanging in her bedroom. We are truly honoured to have Josh as a patron of Niamh's Next Step.   http://joshcassidy.com  @joshcassidy84 

PETER MCDONAGH

So pleased and proud to have professional boxer and current Light Middleweight Irish Boxing Champion Peter Mcdonagh as a patron. Peter is a 3 weight Irish champion and is part of the original MKT Global team.  
Since retiring from boxing in 2019 Peter has been doing lots of media work and has his own podcast and You Tube channel. 

Peter has supported us from the very start and has become a very good friend. Peter works hard for the charity helping raise awareness of Neuroblastoma.

Follow Peter on twitter @McdonaghPeter

LEE DICKSON 

Lee Dickson is former England, Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints  and Bedford Blues scrum half. 
We are so proud to have Lee and Becky involved with Niamh's Next Step.
In 2019 Lee retired from professional rugby and is now Master in Charge of Rugby at Barnard Castle School 
Follow Lee on twitter @Dicko9

Image and some text courtesy of ​http://www.bedfordrugby.co.uk/

BEN FODEN

Ben Foden is a self proclaimed professional egg chaser playing full back/wing who played over 200 games for Northampton Saints.  Part of the fantastic double winning Northampton Saints Team 2013/2014 and a stalwart in the team Ben has moved from Full Back to wing over the last couple of seasons. 
In 2018 Ben moved across the water to ply his trade at New York Utd Rugby Club where he currently plays. 
​We are very proud to have Ben as a patron. 
​You can follow Ben on twitter @Ben_Foden 

JAMIE MOORE

The former British, Common wealth, Irish and European Light Middleweight Champion. Jamie is regularly being put through his paces on Ringside and is a pundit on Sky Sports. Jamie is a highly respected boxing trainer currently working with some fantastic upcoming talent. After turning pro in 1999 Jamie had 37 pro fights with 32 wins and 23 KO’s. He is the former British, Commonwealth and European champion. In 2018 Jamie won BBBC 'Trainer of the year' to sit proudly alongside his 3 'fight of the year awards' he won as a fighter. 
Jamie is married to the lovely Colleen and they have two amazing children.  We are delighted to have Jamie as a patron of Niamh's Next Step. Jamie is on twitter @JamieMoore777

Image courtesy of ​http://www.skysports.com/