Argyle Stars Make Community Commitment
Members of the Greens' squad have made a huge commitment to the vital outreach work of the Argyle Community Trust by stepping forward to become community ambassadors.
A dozen members of the Argyle squad nominated themselves to take a more proactive role in supporting the Trust's activities, enhancing the already strong relationship between the football club and the charity which proudly represents us in the local community.
The special initiative, set up in consultation with manager Steven Schumacher, club captain Joe Edwards and Argyle Ambassador Gary Sawyer, who made nearly 300 appearances for the Greens over two successful spells before retiring from playing, has been introduced as a result of the players' desire to spend more time supporting the Trust's ever-growing community activity.
Duties will include volunteering at events, taking part in sport sessions, using the power of the Club to promote and celebrate the work of the Trust, and enhancing experiences for our community. The ambassadors will work more closely with staff at the Trust to identify opportunities to attend events and support initiatives to make a positive and extra special difference in Devon, Cornwall and beyond.
Zimbabwean international defender Brendan Galloway and Academy graduate midfielder Adam Randell have chosen to be equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) ambassadors, and will support important initiatives like our LGBTQ+ football team - one of the first in the country - and our work with Show Racism the Red Card - among other engagements. The Trust has a long and proud history of removing barriers to participation and providing a safe and inclusive environment for participants. A dedicated EDI working group, led by Trust Operations Manager Jason Chapman, ensures ED&I is at the forefront of our work.
Skipper Joe Edwards and centre-back James Wilson have elected to be education Ambassadors, which will see them support the Trust's thriving Post 16 Football and Education Programme. The programme currently runs in Plymouth, Cornwall, and Newton Abbot, providing 16 to 18-year-olds the opportunity to train and play in tandem with academic study.
Goalkeeper Michael Cooper and striker Ryan Hardie expressed an interest in supporting the Trust's participation provision, having attended many soccer roadshows and events at Manadon Sports Hub in recent years. Meanwhile, striker Niall Ennis and wing-back Mickel Miller will support community engagement, a vital strand of the Trust's work aimed at engaging young people in sport. Programmes like Kicks Town uses the power of football and the value of sports participation to help young people in some of the city’s most high-need areas, in many cases changing their life path and giving them new opportunities.
Midfielders Conor Grant and Matt Butcher will support health and wellbeing activities at the Trust. Conor, one of the club's longest serving squad members, has been a passionate and committed supporter of the club's Fit Fans programme, aimed at helping fans achieve long-term improvements in weight loss, physical activity, diet, and psychological wellbeing, and is often seen attending sessions to help motivate the participants.
Finally, midfielder Jordan Houghton and defender Dan Scarr elected to champion the Project 35 cause, having been blown away by the incredible work of the club, Trust and Ginsters' flagship social action campaign for 22/23. The project has already delivered so much in the first six months since its inception, but there are many more initiatives planned for the year ahead and beyond including more fan appeals, education sessions for children and adults, and volunteering opportunities.
Gary Sawyer expressed his excitement about this new initiative, saying: “Having spent 17 years as a professional player, I thought I understood what Club Community Organisations did across their local communities. It wasn’t until I made the transition to Club Ambassador that I truly began to understand the extent of work they carry out, and the impact they have on people’s lives.
“Argyle Community Trust staff work tirelessly to create new opportunities for all, and I am incredibly lucky to get the opportunity to be involved in this.
“Seeing people’s faces and the excitement that Trust projects bring is a humbling experience and something I’m proud to be supporting.”
Trust Chief Executive Officer Mark Lovell adds: “We are proud to be the official charity of Plymouth Argyle. Our mission is to inspire and make a positive difference to Devon and Cornwall communities through the power of sport and the brand of Plymouth Argyle Football Club and uphold our visions and values as ‘One Argyle’.
“Argyle has always been a club at the heart of its community, and we are grateful for the support of the club, staff, and players who have always supported our events and projects. It is such an exciting time for everyone involved at Argyle both on and off the pitch and we look forward to working together in the year ahead and make a positive difference to our communities.”
Keep an eye on the Club and Trust online channels to see more of the players' activity in the local community in the coming months.
To learn more about the work that the Argyle Community Trust undertakes in the region, visit their website.
