Player appearances total 10,000 a year - now that's an impressive stat
Tireless in their efforts to become a role model for other sporting organisations, the PFA took another step forward in Stockport on Thursday (February 15) when Chief Executive Gordon Taylor made a presentation of Profile, the PFA Community Magazine, before an impressive collection of leading football executives and former players plus the National media and Radio and TV stations.
Gordon Taylor stressed that the PFA philosophy 'For the Good of the Game' could well now read 'For the Good of Life' as under the PFA umbrella there is advice on medical matters, legal affairs, hardship grants, wealth management, education, training and coaching, and with a heavy committment to the PFA in the Community.
Born in Manchester a century ago, the PFA has been constantly growing and Chief Executive Taylor underlined: "The progress has been tremendous, and not least in terms of Social Responsibility."
He added: "The 80s was a particularly difficult period for the game when we had the tragedies of Heysel and Bradford as well as other problems, and you virtually needed an ID card at that time to attend a game. It was clear that a football club needed to be more than just a plain supplier of football and entertainment, and as clubs moved more into the Community it was no coincidence that great stadiums were built and attendances improved."
He pointed out that the PFA's contribution of £2.7 million has opened up the financial contribution from all sources to a total of £8 million after the Premiership decided to double the PFA's initial gift.
"A total of £8 million has really helped to lubricate Football in the Community," added Gordon who also pointed out that while players don' need thanks for working in the Cmmunity they do appreciate their role being recognised, and the good things players do off the field should be stressed more in the media rather forever highlighting incidents like the recent Joey Barton situation.
Said Alex Williams MBE, a magnificent ambassador for the game for Manchester City and its Community schemes in particular: "It would be welcomed if the media reported good news as well as bad."
So where does Alex see Football in the Community being in five years time? He said: "Most Community schemes are working full time now. But there is so much room still for expanding aspects of the programme, and we need everybody to be involved."
Liverpool's Brian Hall explained that a lot of Community work is non-football, or even sport-related. "At Liverpool we have been involved in associating with amateur theatre and many other non-sport events.
If there is an acorn of an idea we can develop we are happy to become involved in any strand of community life."
John Hudson, the PFA's Community Liaison Executive went on to declare that after two decades of success ' we have not finished yet'.
"The PFA was instrumental and responsible for the development of one of the most exciting innovations in football in 1986 with 'Football in the Community' and has remained loyal to it ever since. Community development is dynamic in nature and the PFA members can continue to play a leading role to produce positive Community impact."
Manchester United captain Gary Neville admits that a lot of the PFA committment to Community work goes unnoticed, but says: "That's fine because we don't like to brag."
But the PFA does have plenty to brag about if they want to, not least being the impressive statistic that there are now 92 Football in the Community projects based at clubs in England and Wales with over 3,500 staff directly involved in a diverse range of community activities cetering for the needs of over one million people a year.
And with around 10,000 appearances of professional footballers a year now taking place in the sacheme no statistic in world sport could be more impressive.
