Peter Williamson, 25-year-old chairman of Barnet FC Supporters Association and a volunteer on the club's Football in the Community ground-breaking Kickz project, scooped the Volunteer of the Year award at the first-ever awards ceremony held at Wembley Stadium.

 

Peter, a Barnet fan who wants to give something back to the community, was joined on stage by other volunteers from the 31 Kickz clubs represented on the programme and was presented with his award by former England striker Les Ferdinand and Terry Ryall, chief executive of v, the youth volunteering charity.

 

He said: "This really is a great opportunity to get involved with the community and, by doing so, you can also help your club deliver important projects".

 

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: "The dedication he has shown in volunteering and acting as a role model for young people shows commendable ambition.

 

"He is but one example of thousands of success stories from Kickz projects in the country. Kickz has now engaged over 18,000 young people aged between 12 and 18 through the power of sport and music, making communities stronger and safer in the process".

 

Barnet FC is one of 39 professional football clubs from the Premier League and the Football League delivering over 100 projects in partnership with the police and local authorities across the country.

 

The club, long recognised as a family club that has attempted to foster a community involvement for more than 100 years at Underhill, is proud that Peter Williamson's work as a volunteer has been recognised nationally.

 

Dennis Signy