Andy Butler has been recognised for his outstanding work in the Doncaster community and has been presented with the PFA Community Champion award.
This year the PFA have introduced a PFA Community Champion Award for all clubs in the Football League as a way of raising awareness to the great work players do within the community throughout the footballing season.This seasons award was presented to Andy Butler at our last home game of the season in recognition of his outstanding work in the Doncaster community.
Andy Butler joined Doncaster Rovers during the 2014/15 season. A family man local to the area, Andy soon became the 'Face of the Community.' He is an amazing role model, using his status and success to send out positive messages about working hard to achieve results.
Andy has fully embraced and whole heartedly supported a wide range of our community and educational activities. In his own time he has also trained to become a league referee as he looks to give something back to football.
We are very fortunate to have him; a model professional, great player and true ambassador for the club, the Doncaster area and the sport.
The reach of Club Doncaster Foundation has expanded over the last 12 months and with Andy Butler’s involvement it has added great value to the work and impact they have had across the borough.
On winning the award Andy said: "Footballers are role models and that’s what people see us as. Children look up to us. I have a little boy myself and lots of his friends are Rovers fans so it’s important we are role models for them. If you do things like school visits it pays off because they then become Rovers fans.
“I’ve seen more Rovers shirts about in the last two years than I have in a long time.
Doing work in the community helps the club as well. It’s important we help others where we can as we’re in a privileged position."
Club Doncaster Foundation focus on 4 key themes- Education, Sports Participation, Engagement and Health & Wellbeing, all of which we believe improve the lives of the people living in Doncaster.
In recognition of Andy’s outstanding community work and continued support, he has been awarded with the Doncaster Rovers PFA Community Champion Award for 2015/16.
John Hudson, PFA Director of CSR said: “The PFA believes that all players who go above and beyond what is expected of them in support of the clubs community engagement programmes throughout the season should be recognised for their commitment.
“This Award should highlight and raise awareness of the social responsibilities and impact of our Professional Footballers off the pitch and we would like to extend our congratulations to this season’s recipient of the 2015/16 Community Champion Award”