Behind the Build: How I Handcrafted the UEFA Women's EURO Trophy Boxes
When the season wrapped up with Liverpool FC, I could have taken a breather. But instead, I rolled straight from the final whistle into something completely different, yet just as meaningful. I spent the following week tucked away in my garage, working long hours to bring a special project to life: handcrafting all 31 wooden boxes for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 Player of the Match trophies.
This wasn’t just any woodworking job. It was a collaboration with Visa UK, where we set out to create a box that didn’t just protect a trophy, it honoured the moment it represented. Each box had to be functional, beautiful, and fully sustainable.
From Concept to Craft
The design process started with Visa UK. Together, we developed a trophy box that was practical and planet-friendly. The inside was fitted with custom foam to hold the trophy snug and safe. We decided early on: no screws, no hinges, no metal fixtures. Just wood and glue, a 100% sustainable build.
The front lid slides in and out smoothly, held in place by grooves along the sides. It’s simple, secure, and easy to handle. That simplicity, though, required precision; every cut, groove, and joint had to be just right.
Hours in the Garage
For a week, I built 31 boxes, plus 4 spares, by hand. Each box took time, not just in building, but in drying and finishing. Every box needed about an hour to fully dry, meaning the drying process alone added up to 35 hours of patient waiting. During that time, I kept sanding, adjusting, and making sure every edge was smooth to the touch.
Once dry, the final touches began: cleaning up any glue residue, refining the joints, and giving everything a final light sand to ensure a flawless finish.
The Personal Touch
Each box is engraved on the front, top, and back. The front features the matchday number, date, and location, along with the Visa logo and the UEFA Women’s EURO Switzerland 2025 logo. The top proudly showcases Visa's role in the project, a really cool full-circle moment, knowing they trusted me with such an important detail. At the back proudly engraved 'Made by Yana Daniels', which is such a surreal moment to see.
Off to Europe
Once every box was finished and inspected, I packed them up and drove them to Belgium, where the official trophies were added. From there, they headed to stadiums across Switzerland, ready to be handed to 31 outstanding players, one for each match, each one earning a place in football history.
This project has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever worked on. From the smell of fresh-cut wood to the final engraving, every part of the process meant something. It reminded me that legacy isn’t just built on the pitch, it can be built in a garage, with wood dust on your hands and pride in your heart.
Big thanks to Visa UK for believing in me and helping make this possible.
A Little Thank You 💛
To everyone who’s supported me throughout my football journey so far, and now off the pitch with The Woodcycle, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
From the matches on the field to the handcrafted work I did for the UEFA Women’s EUROs, your encouragement has meant a lot.
As a small token of appreciation, enjoy 15% off on my website with the code WEURO25.
Thank you for being part of the journey and happy shopping!
