Rotherham United skipper Richard Wood has once again set the example on and off the field this season and has once again earned him the PFA Community Player of the Season award, sponsored by RUCST.
Wood may be renowned for his full-blooded and no-holds-barred approach on the field of play but his attitude to his work in the community – even in spite of the restrictions in place as a result of the pandemic – has once again been just as committed.
Here at Rotherham United we pride ourselves on being a cornerstone of the local community and with the help of our manager Paul Warne and the ethos that he has instilled within his playing squad, we have been able to continue to make an impact despite contact with people in the area being limited over the course of the past year.
With the help of the Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, we have continued to make an impact in Rotherham and beyond through the delivery of a number of ‘virtual’ player appearances, in addition to the normal physical meetings that have been possible.
Whilst we are incredibly grateful to all of our players and staff for making themselves available for these events, it has once again been the club captain Wood who has been first to volunteer his time to ensure the connection between club and community has remained as strong as ever.
Whether it has been a virtual player hangout or a video message to commemorate a supporter’s birthday, Wood has so often been the first to put up his hand to get involved – something we are very grateful to say we have come to expect of him during his time at Rotherham United.
“There can’t be many people at the club or in the town who haven’t had some sort of contact with Woody during the lockdowns,” Head of Community Jamie Noble joked.
“He is an absolutely brilliant ambassador for our football club and someone we are incredibly proud to have had associated with Rotherham United for such a long time.
“There is never a ‘no’ with Woody. If the team have lost a game, if he’s busy, whatever, he always values the importance of our commitment to the community and embodies everything we believe in here as a club.
“I must add, Richard is just one of what has been another fantastically receptive group of players and staff throughout this season to our community work. They have all been a pleasure to deal with and that comes from the manager – Paul Warne – and the captain setting the example.
“Richard is quite rightly recognised as a legend for his contribution to Rotherham United on the pitch, but he has been just as influential off it and I would like to place on record once more my wholehearted thanks to him on behalf of everyone at Rotherham United and the Community Sports Trust.”
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— Rotherham United (@OfficialRUFC) June 15, 2021
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