Sutton United and Rotherham United are successful off the pitch too.
Ahead of the Papa John’s Trophy Final on Sunday which will see Sutton United United take on Rotherham United at Wembley, we celebrate the impact of their Club Community Orgnisations are having in their community, and in particular on Aaron and Stuart.
Sutton United Youth and community Foundation
International honours and Building Sutton United
Starting with only a handful of players in 2014, Sutton United’s Disability programme has grown to now having three thriving 11-aside teams competing in the FA’s competitions. In 2019, one of the teams reached the FA People’s Cup final at St George’s Park which was broadcasted live on BBC. Sutton were the eventual runners up, which was an experience that the team would never forget.
One member of the disability team, Aaron Lucas, has recently been selected for the England Cerebral Palsy team. Aaron, featured in the recent fixtures against the USA and Scotland at St. George’s Park. The games, which are the England team’s first since the start of the Covid pandemic, are in preparation for this summer’s Cerebral Palsy World Cup in Spain which Aaron is working hard to be part of.
Sutton United’s Disabalilty programme is much more than success on the pitch however and the weekly training sessions help build friendship, develop confidence and therefore are transforming people’s lives.
Steve King is the head and founder of Sutton United’s Disability programme. His determination to increase the opportunities for people with disabilities to play football has benefited so many in the community. Steve King reflects on the impact of Sutton United’s Disability programme:
“The disability programme has given the players a real sense of purpose and belonging. Not only does it get them all in top physical shape, it helps build their confidence and social skills. It really is life-changing for the players and we’ve had reports from some of the parents who’ve said the improvement in their self-esteem and wellbeing has been remarkable.”
Rotherham United Community Sports Trust
“I’ve done everything from dropping off shopping to painting fence posts!”
Stuart is the selfless volunteer that helps Rotherham United Community Sports Trust support their local community.
Rotherham United Community Sports Trust are a cornerstone of the local community who work and interact with a whole host of people to make a positive impact on the local region.
Stuart Wildridge is one of the Trust’s volunteers who has selflessly committed his own time to his community for many years. Stuart has become the Trust’s resident mini-bus driver, transporting a number of teams and students to venues across the region. A service which is key to the successful delivery of so many of the Trust’s brilliant community schemes.
Stuart’s desire to help out where possible has become even greater during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was heavily involved in delivering care packages and donated food to people in need around the community. In addition, alongside his own shopping, Stuart collected items for participants, of RUCST’s programmes, who are deemed vulnerable and therefore could not go out themselves.
Stuart said:
“I’ve done everything from dropping off shopping to painting fence posts!
I first got involved with the Trust through Mind, who told me about the Trust’s walking group. I went and joined that, then they found out that I could drive a minibus, so then I ended up driving the walking group! It snowballed from there really. I started driving some of the kids’ teams around – the Academy players, both boys and girls – among various other groups. I just do it to make folks happy and hopefully they like me for it”.
Jamie Noble, Head of Community at the Trust said:
“He is one of those people who has a real desire to help others and he certainly does that. He is an inspirational character and we could all learn something from his amazingly selfless nature. It has been an absolute pleasure to know Stuart for all of these years and even more so to work with him. He embodies everything good about our football club and he is a shining example for Rotherham United in our community.
Stuart concluded by citing the main reason for his continued commitment to the Community Sports Trust and his ongoing charity work is the satisfaction he gets from being able to provide help to those around him.
He commented:
“It always feels worthwhile to see the smiles on people’s faces, particularly at times like this when it is that bit harder for everyone.”
