We are delighted to announce that Martin Hunt has won our Grassroots Coach of the Year (Adult) Award as part of The FA and McDonald's Grassroots Football Awards.

The awards aim to recognise and reward volunteers, match officials, clubs and leagues across the county who have made a difference to grassroots football in their local community.

Martin started Worthing FC inclusive in 2018 after a call from players locally after their team folded, with assistance from Friends the club formed and now has over 40 players of whom train on a Friday night and four teams compete in the Sussex Disability League. 

Over the last four years Martin has worked tirelessly to take the club forward and has arranged with ourselves for a number of players with various disabilities to gain, or in the process of taking their coaching badges and has grown their confidence to do so.

The impact Martin has to the local community is massive, players who wouldn’t have the confidence or ability to play in a mainstream league get to play football, train in a fantastic friendly, but competitive, safe environment and improve week on week, the encouragement Martin offers is second to none.

A number of players who are with the club wouldn’t play, wouldn’t train, gain fitness or do exercise of this kind, the club welcomes all. Players especially over lockdown suffered mental health issues and some wouldn’t leave their homes, but Martin gives them a purpose.

Martin doesn’t ask for anything in return and does it for the love of the game and for others.

To find out more about The FA and McDonald's Grassroots Football Awards please contact:

Awards
E: Awards@SussexFA.com