Braydon Parry, age 12, has been named as AFC Bournemouth’s Community Captain in recognition of his resilience following a life changing procedure and being an inspiration to those around him.
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.
Presentations to the Captains form part of the Premier League Trophy Tour, which is visiting more than 50 professional, non-league and women’s clubs across England and Wales who receive funding from the Premier League.
Braydon received the accolade at Ringwood Town FC. He was awarded a PL30 Community Captain armband and pennant. A plaque engraved with Braydon’s name was also added to the Premier League Trophy plinth.
Head of Community, Steve Cuss who presented Braydon’s Community Captain award, said: “We were delighted to award the ‘Community Captain’ accolade to Braydon who continues to enjoy his football with the Ability Counts team alongside supporting club campaigns as an ambassador.”
“He is inspirational to both fellow players and coaches and we look forward Braydon continuing in his development through community opportunities at AFC Bournemouth.”
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.”
The Ability Counts programme is supported with Premier League funding to run weekly recreational football activities for children, young people and adults with any form of physical and/ or learning difficulty. There are also additional pathways for those people who wish to play in competitive games, offering both pan-disability and impairment specific opportunities.
