“Our family has a huge connection with this island,” Croot told the Times of Malta.
“I came over when I was just 10 months old and left when I was six, having lived in places like Mosta and Mtarfa.”
That personal bond has played a role in building a growing relationship between Chesterfield and Maltese football. A connection that is already producing tangible results.
One of Croot’s first moves at the club was bringing in former Malta international Justin Tellus, who now serves as the club’s Academy Head of Recruitment and Development Officer.
Through this link, Chesterfield currently has two Maltese youth internationals in its ranks – goalkeeper James Sissons and forward Gunner Elliott.
Both players are considered promising prospects, with Sissons already training regularly with the first-team goalkeepers and Elliott having tasted senior football at just 16 years old.
“They know they need to work hard, and they are working hard,” Croot said.
“We are investing in facilities, in good coaches, and in specialised coaching to give them the best possible opportunity.”
The relationship between the club and Malta continues to grow.
In January, Chesterfield signed an agreement with the Malta Football Association, in collaboration with VisitMalta, the tourism promotion brand of the Malta Tourism Authority.
The agreement includes coach exchanges, development collaboration, and sponsorship elements aimed at promoting Malta as a travel destination among football supporters in the United Kingdom
Croot’s work at Chesterfield has not gone unnoticed.
In 2025, he was named League Two CEO of the Year at the Football Business Awards, recognised for stabilising the club, guiding their return to the English Football League, and building a strong community-focused ownership model.
But perhaps his biggest impact on football goes beyond the professional game.
Croot is widely recognised as the founder of Walking Football – a version of the game designed to make football accessible for older people and those who cannot play the traditional format.
The idea started in 2010 while he was working at the Chesterfield Community Trust, after receiving funding from the Sports Relief Funding to develop programmes for older people.
What started as a local community project quickly grew into a global phenomenon, helped by media exposure including coverage on Sky Sports.
Today, Walking Football is played around the world and has even inspired other walking sports, including rugby and basketball.
The initiative also aligns with UEFA’s Football Sustainability Strategy 2030, which includes a strong focus on health and well-being and aims for 60% of member associations to offer football activities specifically for older people by 2027.
Malta could soon be one of those associations.
“I know the Malta FA is interested in launching a Walking Football project,” Croot said. “With our expertise, we are looking to help.”