Everton manager Roberto Martinez, first-team players John Stones and Conor McAleny, and Blues legend Graeme Sharp were the guests of honour at Wednesday’s annual Everton in the Community Disability Awards.
The evening recognised the footballing achievements of players from nine disability teams associated with the Club’s official charity.
Martinez opened the event and awarded trophies for Players’ Player of the Year and Manager’s Player of the Year to stars from Everton in the Community’s world renowned disability programme.
Blues duo Stones and McAleny then took to the stage to present medals of achievement to each participant from the nine teams in attendance, before Sharp then gave out the final accolades of the evening in the Special Recognition category.
Hosted by Graeme White and with entertainment provided by local singer and Everton in the Community volunteer Jennifer Jewell, the awards ceremony at Isla Gladstone Conservatory in Stanley Park saw players from the Pan Disability A, B, C and D teams, Pan Disability U16s A and B teams, Powered Wheelchair team, Adult Deaf team and U12s team all rewarded for their hard work over the last year.
Disability Awards
Speaking after attending the Everton in the Community Disability Awards, Blues boss Martinez said: “I am very much looking forward to seeing this programme continue to grow from strength to strength over the coming years.
“The people recognised tonight are a hugely committed group of Evertonians and I am proud to have them as part of our football club.”
Stones echoed these comments adding: “Since arriving at Everton I have had the opportunity to go out in the community a few times and watch these coaching sessions delivered first-hand, so it is great for me to see these young people be rewarded tonight for their hard work and dedication.”
Steve Johnson, Everton in the Community Disability Manager, said: “It has been great to reward our players and recognise their achievements from over the course of the season. To have Roberto here with us acknowledging their efforts is fantastic.
“When I first arrived at Everton 12 years ago we only delivered coaching sessions in school, now we are able to deliver sessions to people with all different disabilities who are playing at all different levels.
“The football coaching we deliver is just a small part of what we do within our disability programme, we help disabled people in everyday life and assist them in accessing a variety of different opportunities including work placements and qualifications.”
The disability programme delivered by the Club’s official charity is one of the largest and most respected in the world and provides football and physical activity opportunities for thousands of disabled children and adults each year.
The programme is all inclusive and there are teams available to those with any disability whether that be learning, physical, reduced stature, autism, cerebral palsy, deaf or partially sighted.
In the past year alone, the charity has engaged with nearly 3,000 disabled participants on a local, national and international level. There are currently 26 successful disability teams representing Everton which field a total of 12 current international players.
Video:
www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2014/08/14/martinez-attends-disability-awards
