THE HIGH Sheriff of Worcestershire paid a special visit to Droitwich Spa Football Club to present awards to the club’s disability team and dedicated volunteers.
High Sheriff Charles Moyle JP, the King’s representative for Worcestershire, along with the mayor of Droitwich, Coun Alex Sinton, visited the club at their King George Playing Fields home.
Awards were given out to Mark and Jo Wheatley, Simon Billington, Simon Holliday and the club’s disability football team for their great and valuable services to the community.
High Sheriff Charles Moyle JP said: “I’ve come to Droitwich to celebrate what’s going on with disability football in the Spa and support the coaches and volunteers who are giving up their time for nothing and putting something back into the club.
“It’s a great privilege my job as High Sheriff to speak to and thank huge numbers of people for what they do for the community.
“Droitwich town is incredibly lucky to have a football club like this, this is a unique jewel in the county and it is taking hundreds of young men and women and young adults and giving them a massive amount of pleasure from playing team sport.
“Inclusivity has never been more important, it’s to make sure people looking for an outlet can live a normal life and this place allows them to live a normal life through a sporting lens.
Mayor Sinton, who selected Droitwich’s disability team as one of his chosen charities, added: “It’s been fabulous, it’s so exciting here, it’s amazing and unique in many ways, it makes you really proud to be part of Droitwich.”
Mark and Jo Wheatley lead the club’s girls’ and ladies’ sections. Mark is ladies chairman and Jo is vice-chairman. They have also coached a number of the club’s youth teams for the last 15 years.
When the pair first started at the club, Droitwich had just four girls’ teams. The club now boasts eight teams and a development side.
Billington is a matchday volunteer for the open age first team and helps out around the club wherever needed.
He also volunteers at Centre Church and its foodbank in Droitwich,
Holliday represented Droitwich at youth, open age and veteran levels. He is now chairman of the veteran’s team and is also president of Droitwich Spa Cricket Club.
He has made a massive contribution to sport in the town.
Droitwich Spa chairman, Rob Lamb said: “It’s a great honour for the club, it’s become a real focal point of the community.
“It’s become a real hub and centre of community for Droitwich, it’s great fun.
“The 3G pitch provides fantastic training facilities for all of the kids’ teams, the disability side and the ladies and youth teams.
“This isn’t a short-term project, this is a long-term project, we want football to be played at a decent level in Droitwich for years to come.
“It’s got to be sustainable, we’re trying to build a sustainable football club, our passion has always been to have 11 first-teamers all from Droitwich.”
