Janet and John

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This is not an article extoling the virtues of the famous early reading books but one that pays a well-deserved tribute to two people who have made a massive contribution to the communities of their Football Clubs and had a significant impact on the lives of thousands of people.

Janet Preston, Head of Morecambe FC Community Sports and John Halpin, Head of Carlisle United Community Sports Trust are both about to retire from their respective roles, having spent a combined total of over 50 years serving their communities.

There are many terms overused and overhyped in sport and ‘loyal servant’ is one of those…however in both Janet and John’s cases it is very apt and maybe even understates their impact and service. Both Janet and John came to their Clubs when their Community Organisation were in their infancy and were not much more than an outreach programmes to get kids playing football. They both leave having created much bigger, more diverse and well run charities that help all sections of their community solving many of societies biggest issues.

Mike Evans CEO of the EFL Trust, comments,

“Of course we will miss them both massively as individuals. However, due to their sterling work, the charities they have been instrumental in creating have such a solid structure that the legacy they leave will continue long into the future.”

Janet Preston Morecambe FC Community Sports

Janet, is stepping down after 20 years of loyal service, to spend more time with her family. Janet has been with the charity since its inception as a ‘Football in the Community Scheme’ when the Club was playing non-league football and based at Christie Park. Leading the organisation on its journey to becoming a fully-fledged charity in 2007, Janet gained national recognition from peers along the way. During that time, Janet has worked with five first-team managers, two interim managers and hundreds of players, ensuring that they played their part in the community.

Janet said:

“It has been an absolute honour to lead Community Sports for the last 20 years, improving the lives of so many people in the community, through our range of projects. I have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful people inside and outside of Morecambe Football Club, working with fantastic partners and developing long lasting friendships. Morecambe FC Community Sports and the football club will always be a part of me, but I feel now is the right time to pass the baton on to enable me to spend some deserved quality time with my family. I leave the charity in a strong position and safe hands, with a dedicated team to take the charity onwards.”

Morecambe Football Club Co-Chairman Rod Taylor said:

“The Community programme has developed from an embryonic idea to what it is today, and Janet can take great pride in her role along that 20-year journey.   A Community programme is a vital heartbeat of any football club and the wider community, sometimes with initiatives that are not at the forefront of the public’s awareness. We wish Janet and her family well for the future and look forward to seeing her at the Mazuma Stadium on matchdays.”

John Halpin, Carlisle United Community Trust

It is some 38 years ago that a Carlisle United scout alerted the manager to a ‘nippy young Scottish winger’ called John Halpin. John went on to represent to Club 153 times over 7 years and later had a spell as Club manager.

The much-loved winger went on to manage the Community Sports Trust, bringing the organisation in to the modern era. From an outreach programme that serviced the needs of local primary schools, it now has schemes and projects which cover every area of society, providing much needed contact for those who otherwise perhaps wouldn’t even get the chance to leave the house, let alone interact with like-minded people.

Chairman Andrew Jenkins said:

“John was first spotted by our scout Jack Watson in the Stokoe days, when he was out on-loan from Celtic to Sunderland. There was a transfer fee involved but everybody at the time felt it was business well worth doing. When you think about it, it proved to be a bargain considering he’s been at the club for nearly 40 years. To me John has been a great ambassador for the Club and someone you love to meet and talk to. He throws himself into everything he does and the healthy position the Community Sports Trust is in is proof of that.”

John said

“I was actually going to retire when I was 60 [last November] but with so much going on post-Covid, I didn’t think that would be right. I wanted to make sure that all of our projects were back up and running and the staff at the Trust have been magnificent, they really have.

“They’ve not only picked things up again, but they’ve pushed it on to new levels, and that’s why I know that I’m leaving it in very good and capable hands.
“I will miss it, of course I will, but I’m also very relaxed about the decision I’ve made. It’s important to give my family some of my time, it’s been all about football for so much of my life, and I’m really looking forward to that.

“I love the club, I certainly won’t be cutting all ties, I’ll be keeping a very close eye on what everyone is doing and I know that the Community Sports Trust staff will be taking that side of the business forward at every opportunity.”

Young Blackburn Rovers fan George doesn’t let his cerebral palsy stop him from being active

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“He gets stuck in; he gives everything a try and there is nothing that he doesn’t want to do”

Young Blackburn Rovers supporter, George, has recently started in reception at Avondale, in Darwen, a partner primary school of Blackburn Rovers Community Trust.

George has cerebral palsy, and he has difficulty maneuvering himself around independently. However, this doesn’t diffuse his enthusiasm to participate in the EYFS gymnastics sessions run by Blackburn Rovers Community Trust at his school on a weekly basis.

The sessions focus on helping the children travel with both their hands and feet, with around 30 students aged 4-5 from Avondale participating each week.

George’s one-to-one, Zoe, said: “George has come on a lot, he gets stuck in and gives everything a try.

“When he first started his limbs were very tight and I do physio sessions with him daily. He wears splints, not for the PE sessions that Blackburn Rovers Community Trust or we provide, but his flexibility has come on. George’s balance is getting better, and he’s benefitted massively from all the sessions he has available to him.

“He has cerebral palsy, it’s his lower limbs so it predominantly affects his lower half

“George is a massive Rovers fan and every time we come, he says ‘I love Blackburn Rovers’ so it’s great to connect the two and he knows the familiarity of the club so it’s great that he can do sessions.”

Each week, the sessions follow a different engaging theme to allow the children to use their imagination, and just recently, the session was focused on superheroes and animals.

The skills Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s staff teach include balancing both on and off apparatus, jumping and landing safely, transferring weight from one limb to another and rolling.

George is always looking to get involved with each activity put in front of him, and always has a huge smile on his face.

Sarah, SENCO lead at Avondale, said: “George is a resilient little boy who will give everything a go. He always has a smile on his face, and we include him in everything we can.

“He has physiotherapy sessions every day at school to ensure that his muscles are getting stretched, and we are trying to build that up. He is making progress.

“George loves football and he loves Blackburn Rovers. It is good he is encouraged to have a go at anything, and he looks forward to the sessions Blackburn Rovers Community Trust runs.

George’s dad concluded by saying: “George loves to be active and never lets his disabilities hold him back. He’s a big Rovers fan and always tells the family how much he loves doing PE with Rovers.”

Every Player Counts with Wigan Athletic Community Trust has given Carl a sense of belonging in his local community.

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Carl presents a mild learning disability and also expresses his struggles with mental health, but the Trust Every Player Counts session has given Carl a sense of belonging in his community. As well as this the sessions provide him an opportunity to play the game he loves whilst keeping fit and encouraging social interaction.

He commented on why he enjoyed the session: “Come enjoy the game, get an hour out of the house, enjoy the session. Get to know everyone and become part of the team.”

The Every Player Counts programme which was funded by Wembley National Stadium Trust for 6 years has helped 12,498 people with a wide range of disabilities play football – many for the first time. The programme was delivered across 40 EFL Club Community Organisations, with around 19,000 Every Player Counts sessions being provided.

He is now 36 years old and has been involved in Wigan Athletic Community Trust provisions since the age of 16 where he participated in Premier League Kicks sessions. Carl’s involvement with the Trust speaks volumes as to the benefit it has on the local community.

Carl is a big character within his team, and his passion for the sport shines through. He even attends the sessions if he is injured to offer his support and encouragement to other players.

The big reason for Carl’s continued engagement with the Trust is not only the fulfilment it provides but also gives him the reason to leave home.

He explains: “It’s got me more involved. If I’m at home I’m going to be bored so I just want to play football on Wednesdays. It gets me out of the house so I enjoy coming here.”

Wigan Community Trust has played a huge role in Carl’s life, and he has now expressed a desire to volunteer at other programmes facilitated by the Trust to give back in the way the Trust has given to him.