Argyle Community Captain Named

Colin Bunney has been named Argyle’s Community Captain in recognition of his incredible work over the past 17 years as an employee and volunteer at the Argyle Community Trust.

Colin has inspired young people aged two to 16 across the region, through after-school clubs, roadshows, and coaching junior disability and wheelchair football sessions. Many will recognise Colin as Argyle’s Ball Assistant Manager on match-days at Home Park.

The Community Captain accolade is being given to more than 100 members of the public who have made an outstanding contribution to their club and local community as part of the Premier League’s 30th anniversary celebrations.    

Colin was honoured with the award at Manadon Sports and Community Hub, the Trust’s bespoke community facility that opened in 2019 thanks to funding from the Premier League and the Football Foundation. Trust Chief Executive Officer Mark Lovell, and Argyle Ambassador and club legend Gary Sawyer, presented a PL30 Community Captain armband and pennant to mark the occasion in front of Trust participants from disability sessions, roadshows, and the Girls’ Advanced Development Centre. 

Gary said: “It is a pleasure to present Colin with this accolade and recognise the amazing contribution he has made in the city to inspire so many young people. This is for every person he has inspired over the past 17 years and is thoroughly deserved.

“People like Colin are integral to inspiring communities and his hard work and dedication help drive the vision and values of the Club and Trust.” 

Community Captain, and lifelong Argyle fan, Colin added: “I have always been into football, playing from the age of five until I was 50, before becoming a coach. I love my job and I don’t do it for recognition. There’s a great team of people working at the Trust and there are opportunities for everybody to be involved, which I think is fantastic.

“I learned early in my coaching career in schools and in my Ball Assistant role that I had a huge part to play in the development of children and to always be the best role model I could be. 

“I hope I have inspired many children across the years to become active and remain active as they mature. Every child deserves the same opportunities.”

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “As we mark 30 years since the Premier League first kicked off, it is important we celebrate the unsung heroes who deliver brilliant work in their communities. These people – whether they are participants, coaches, volunteers or long-time employees – are the lifeblood of their clubs and their communities. 

“The continued success of Premier League football enables us to provide unprecedented investment in communities and wider football. As we look to the future, we are committed to investing more than ever, to help develop the game and provide opportunities to people of all ages.” 

Across England and Wales, Premier League investment supports the community organisations of all 92 Premier League and English Football League clubs, plus the 68 National League clubs.   

Over the next three years, the League will continue its world-leading levels of support by contributing £1.6 billion to communities and the wider game.  

During the Trophy Tour, the League will be announcing new financial commitments to benefit fans and communities. This includes increased investment into the Premier League Fans’ Fund, with £5m available to support fan engagement projects across the top four divisions of the football pyramid. The League is also investing an additional £13.5 million into the Football Foundation to create small-sided pitches in the heart of communities that need them the most. The tour will also give an opportunity to highlight new Premier League investment into women’s and girls’ football, including the Emerging Talent Centres announced earlier this summer. 

Trust Chief Executive Officer Mark Lovell adds: “We are grateful to the Premier League for providing vital funds for key community engagement programmes like PL Kicks and Primary Stars. These sessions are at the heart of our communities and help remove barriers to participation.

“Since opening our Hub at Manadon, we have seen women’s and girls’ football go from strength to strength. The women’s first team play their home games here and we have a complete and thriving player pathway for girls aged four, all the way to the women’s first team.”