Ross Langworthy

At the age of 11, Ross, who was at the Aston Villa football academy, stepped forward to help a local football club. The under 8's at Abbeymead Rovers had an influx of players and no coach which would have meant having to turn the new players away but Ross volunteered to coach the new group and they formed a team called The Eagles. The following season they entered a league and lost every game but won the fair play award. Over the following three seasons, they gradually improved, finishing mid table in their final season as under 12's. Ross ran the coaching, managed the team, phoned the parents, made arrangements with the opposition managers and referees and marked the pitch. He did this every week for four years. He did win a 'Pride of Gloucestershire Award for his efforts as well as some awards at school. Now eighteen, Ross has continued his voluntary work coaching a ladies football team at the club for the past three years. Without him, many of those young people would not have played football as they were turned away from other clubs. One was partially sighted and one had learning difficulties. but most are now playing for better teams and one girl playing for a centre of excellence. During this time he also ran a school football team, whilst, he was playing himself at the highest possible level with all the time commitments that involves. He is a real local community hero!