The Dylan Tombides Award: A Legacy That Continues to Inspire at West Ham United
With Andre Dike the latest Hammers Academy player to be crowned the Dylan Tombides Award winner for the 2025/26 season, we thought it a good time to explain the award, look at its history and why it’s important.
For more than a decade, one of the most prestigious honours presented by West Ham United’s Academy has carried the name of Dylan Tombides. Officially renamed the Dylan Tombides Scholar of the Year in 2026, the accolade continues to celebrate the Academy’s outstanding young talent while ensuring Dylan’s remarkable legacy remains at the heart of the Club.
The award transcends the realm of football, shining a spotlight on young individuals who embody resilience, determination, and exceptional talent. This accolade honors those who showcase unwavering dedication and strong character, ensuring that Dylan’s inspiring spirit continues to thrive within the West Ham family. Each recipient not only joins this esteemed legacy but also reinforces the values that matter deeply to us all.
Although the award now carries a new official title, it remains widely known throughout the West Ham family as the Dylan Tombides Award.
Dylan Tombides was one of the brightest prospects ever to emerge from the Academy of Football. Born in Perth, Western Australia, he joined West Ham United in 2009 and quickly established himself as one of the Club’s most exciting young talents. He was tipped to rise to the top of the game.
Despite being diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 17, Dylan displayed extraordinary courage and determination. He continued to play whenever possible, made his first-team debut for West Ham United in a League Cup tie against Wigan Athletic in 2012, and became an inspiration to teammates, coaches and supporters alike.
Tragically, Dylan passed away on 18 April 2014 at the age of just 20. In the years since, his family, friends and the DT38 Foundation have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of testicular cancer and promote the life-saving message of early detection.
To honour his memory, West Ham United established the Dylan Tombides Award in 2014. Presented annually to the Academy player who best embodies excellence, commitment, character and potential, the award quickly became one of the Club’s most meaningful accolades.
Many recipients have gone on to enjoy successful professional careers, including England international and former West Ham captain Declan Rice. Yet the significance of the award extends far beyond footballing achievement. It represents the values Dylan demonstrated throughout his life: resilience, humility, determination and an unwavering passion for the game.
In 2025, midfielder Preston Fearon became the final recipient of the award under its original title, receiving the honour from DT38 Patron Mark Noble at the Club’s annual Player Awards ceremony.
The following year marked the beginning of a new chapter. Academy forward Andre Dike became the inaugural recipient of the newly named Dylan Tombides Scholar of the Year award. Dike enjoyed an outstanding season with the Under-18s, scoring 19 goals and registering four assists, and received the trophy from Dylan’s mother, Tracy Tombides.
As Co-Founder of the DT38 Foundation and Dylan’s mother, Tracy Tombides has witnessed first-hand the impact the award continues to have on successive generations of young players.
“The Dylan Tombides Scholar of the Year award is about much more than football. It celebrates young people who demonstrate dedication, character and potential, while ensuring Dylan’s spirit remains part of the West Ham family. Every winner becomes part of that legacy, and that means a great deal to us.”
More than twelve years after Dylan’s passing, his influence remains woven into the fabric of West Ham United. Through the work of the DT38 Foundation and the annual presentation of the award that bears his name, Dylan’s story continues to educate, inspire and save lives.
Dylan Tombides Award / Dylan Tombides Scholar of the Year Winners
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2013/14 | Josh Cullen |
| 2014/15 | Reece Oxford |
| 2015/16 | Declan Rice |
| 2016/17 | Domingos Quina |
| 2017/18 | Conor Coventry |
| 2018/19 | Aji Alese |
| 2019/20 | Will Greenidge |
| 2020/21 | Jayden Fevrier |
| 2021/22 | Sonny Perkins |
| 2022/23 | Gideon Kodua |
| 2023/24 | Ezra Mayers |
| 2024/25 | Preston Fearon |
| 2025/26 | Andre Dike* |
*First recipient of the award under its new official title, the Dylan Tombides Scholar of the Year.
From Josh Cullen to Andre Dike, every recipient has become part of a legacy that transcends football. Their names stand alongside Dylan Tombides, a young man whose courage, talent and determination continue to inspire generations of West Ham United players and supporters alike.