FWA Gala Tribute Evening

For five years now Boadicea the Victorious has been proud to support the Gala Tribute Evening held every January by The Football Writers’ Association in the sumptuous luxury of London’s Savoy Hotel. It is a unique and glittering event which is held to honour one of the greats of the world game.

This year it was the French World Cup winner and former Arsenal and Manchester City midfield powerhouse Patrick Vieira whose iconic career was recognized, and it was a great privilege to be introduced to him and his beautiful wife, Cheryl.

Vieira embodies the qualities of leadership we so admire. As the captain of Arsenal’s famed “Invincibles” side who went through the entire 2003-2004 Premier League season unbeaten, he set standards that have never been matched. A World Cup winner in his own country in 1998, he won trophies wherever he went in England and Italy throughout a magnificent career.

Away from football, however, his deeds have been just as praiseworthy. Born in Senegal, he has done substantial charity work in Africa and in 2010 was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

Guests on an evening attended by many major stars of the sport included Vieira’s old midfield teammate Emmanuel Petit, who flew from France especially to be with his friend. All of the ladies in the room were presented with a table gift of Boadicea the Victorious perfumes, while Patrick himself received a special presentation before the evening began of a bottle of Blue Sapphire.

Boadicea the Victorious CEO David Crisp said: “It was again an excellent evening and we received many compliments on the gift. It was a pleasure to meet Patrick and his beautiful lady.”