Scoring high for work in community

Morecambe FC has been named as the most active club for players involved in charity and community work by the Professional Footballers Association.

The Community Sports arm of the club was also been selected as finalist in two categories of the North West Football Awards 2014, which took place at Lancashire Cricket Club on Tuesday.

The team made almost 1,200 visits, including working with Mencap.

Players made 222 individual school visits, doing fitness instruction for the over-50s and the likes of Tony Diagne (now Lincoln) assisting French exchange students.

Morecambe Community Sports (MSC) operate a range of projects, which helps the football club address key social issues in health, education, social inclusion and sports participation.

The programmes include extensive work in schools; partnerships with local agencies, charities and organisations.

They support government initiatives promoting health and well-being and hold sessions targeted at groups with special needs or from socially deprived areas.

Work includes everything from involving players in promoting reading in schools, hosting birthday parties, group visits and mascots on match days and taking players to visit patients at the local hospital.

In the Community Initiative of the Year category, it the club was chosen for its Gymstars project. The scheme involves taking a mobile gym into schools to provide children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 with the opportunity to become more physically active and helps introduce a healthy, active lifestyle.

Morecambe Community Sports was also been selected as finalists in the Community Club of the Year category.

Janet Preston, from Morecambe Community Sports said: “To be recognised alongside the best from across the leagues shows the quality of the work that we deliver.”