John McGinn and Maz Pacheco have been awarded the Professional Footballers' Association Community Champion Award for their work with the Aston Villa Foundation during the 2022/23 season.
Both McGinn and Pacheco were chosen for setting an example to senior and younger players at the club by engaging in various community appearances over the year, including the Foundation’s Big Villa Sleep Out event.
McGinn also took part in the Premier League Primary Stars ‘No Room for Racism’ workshop, alongside Jacob Ramsey at Lozells Junior and Infant School. The pair actively engaged with year 5 pupils on the topic of racism, the importance of standing up for your teammates and why players take the knee in a workshop delivered by the Foundation’s Primary Schools and Sport team.
Pacheco has showcased commitment to the promotion of women’s football through her M3 Football Camps, helping to encourage more women and girls into playing the sport.
Both players have also been very welcoming when participants selected by the Foundation visited Bodymoor Heath Training Ground throughout the year, generously giving up their time to help others and making participants feel welcomed and involved. This includes when Ability Count’s participant Laura had the surprise of a lifetime, spending the day with Pacheco and the Aston Villa Women, while also taking part in and observing a training session.
Maheta Molango, CEO of the Professional Footballers’ Association shared: “The PFA has once again been immensely proud of the outstanding efforts of players this season and we feel they should be recognised for their support and involvement in the local community.
"The Award will hopefully raise awareness of the importance many of our members attach to their roles off the pitch and highlight their continued commitment to support those most in need along with engaging in areas where they have a personal interest. We would like to offer our congratulations to this season’s recipients of the 2022/23 PFA Community Champion Award.”
The Foundation would like to extend a thank you to all players who have been involved in community work over the course of the 2022/23 season.
