Cambridge United Foundation recently presented PFA Community Champion Awards to Men's first team player Jordan Cousins, and Women's first team player Gisela Otten...
Every year the Professional Footballers' Association celebrates the off-the-pitch impact that football players across the UK have in their clubs and in their communities. The Community Champion Award is the recognition of the players who go above and beyond in making a genuine and long-lasting difference.
This past week, Cambridge United Foundation paid visits to First-Team Midfielder, Jordan Cousins, and Women's First-Team Defender, Gisela Otten, to present them with the awards.
Tim Walker - Head of Programmes for the Foundation, delivered Jordan with his award. Jordan also recently was the Foundation's nomination for the EFL Player in the Community award, which recognises the same efforts as the PFA Community Champion.
Tim Walker had the following to say on Jordan's impact over the past 12-months,
"Jordan fully recognises the profound impact that professional footballers can have as role models in the community. He also appreciates that inherent in his role is a responsibility to contribute and have impact, something that is greatly valued by colleagues across the Club and Foundation."
Kieran Wood, Youth Engagement Officer with the Foundation was in attendance at the Cambridge United Women's fixture held at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, where he presented Gisela with her Community Champion award.
Gisela has played for Cambridge United Women's First-Team for over five years, and has held captaincy in a number of those seasons. As this award recognises, Gisela has not only offered on-the-pitch excellence, but she has been instrumental in creating the culture within the team - which has steered their presence and subsequent impact within the community.
In the past 12-months, Gisela has willingly volunteered her time to attend a number of community events, from the Christmas light switch-on in Marleigh, and attending the Meadows Community Centre to represent the club at the opening event. Gisela also took a lead in organising a football equipment collection which was donated to the children on the Oncology Ward at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
We would like to not only congratulate these two players for being recipients of the Community Champion Award, but also we would like to thank them for embodying the values that both the Foundation and the Football Club hold themselves to.