City of London Academy’s Jackson Gibbons has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for “services to Young People and to Basketball” in HM The King’s New Year Honours List 2025.
The honours recognise unsung heroes who have made outstanding contributions to their communities across the UK, and Gibbons, who founded City of London Academy Southwark’s Basketball Academy in 2013, has grown the Pride into one of the UK’s most successful youth basketball programmes.
“I feel extremely grateful to be acknowledged in this year’s Honours List,” Gibbons said.
“It truly is a testament to being surrounded by such an amazing support network and some phenomenally brilliant young people who make the journey so worth it, without whom there wouldn’t be a program at CoLA Basketball.
“I’m looking forward to the direction the program is moving in and impacting many more lives through the game of basketball.”
To date he has won 24 National Titles as Head Coach, which include seven at Senior Level (with his teenage players) and has won 12 Coach of the Year awards, while sending over 150 players to the US on scholarships.
Gibbons is also an assistant coach with the Great Britain Senior Men.
“Each and every day, ordinary people go out and do extraordinary things for their communities,” Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said.
“They represent the very best of the UK and that core value of service which I put at the centre of everything this government does.
“The New Year Honours List celebrates more of these unsung heroes, and I thank them for their incredible contribution.”
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