EFL CLUBS CELEBRATE THEIR COMMUNITY HEROES
This week, Pompey in the Community and the EFL are celebrating local heroes and their impact they make in their communities as part of the EFL’s Community Weekends.
Across the period, Clubs, managers and players will acknowledge the vital work that community staff and volunteers deliver 365 days per year and Community Heroes will be honoured by special visits from players and through matchday activities.
This year’s Pompey in the Community EFL Community Heroes are:
Abdul Khalique – The popular steward at Fratton Park is always on hand with a smile and friendly greeting behind the Fratton End. He even supported our Covid efforts by helping with food parcels for some of the most vulnerable in our community.
Mitch Jones – Not many people will know his superpower, but Mitch is the personality behind our pitch side hero Nelson. Not only does he give up his time every match day but he regularly supports the charity like bringing Nelson across the line at the Great South Run. He even cycled all the way to the Germany to follow England in the Euros!
Kevin Wheeler – Another dedicated volunteer dedicating his time to hype up the crowds at Fratton Park but also supporting the charity across a wide variety of events like the Pompey Christmas Singalong and appearing at the Great South Run.
Pat Lane – Pat joined our Life’n’Chimes Dementia support group with her husband many years ago. Sadly her husband has since passed, but she dedicates her Wednesday mornings to volunteer leading the group providing vital support for those experiencing social isolation – and some great baking skills.
David Bradley – David dedicates hours of his time every week leading a passionate group of volunteers to provide inclusive cycling opportunities at Alexandra Park and Bransbury Park every week for Pompey Pedals. Last year the team gave up over 6,000 hours to volunteer for us from supporting participants to maintaining the specialist equipment, we couldn’t do what we do without them.
Trevor Birch, CEO of the EFL, said: “Community is a fundamental part of the EFL and its 72 Clubs’ identity. The work undertaken by Clubs has a hugely positive impact on the participants of the various programmes and in the towns and cities where people live.
During the 2023/24 season, EFL Football Club charities delivered 438,033 sessions across 801,661 hours with an average of 6,084 sessions and 11,134 hours of support per Club.
