Community Coach Recognised For Service To Football

– Leicester City in the Community Health and Wellbeing Coach, Paul Gibson, has been a given a special recognition
– This came at the recent Leicestershire & Rutland County FA Recognition Awards
– He’s contributed to football in Leicestershire for over 40 years, working for Leicester City’s charity for five of those years
– LCFC Women’s Sophie Howard and the Championship trophy were also present at the King Power Stadium event

Gibson has been given a special recognition honour at the latest Leicestershire & Rutland County FA Recognition Awards. He has been rewarded for his commitment in football in an awards night that highlighted exceptional achievements within the Leicestershire & Rutland County FA network.

Reflecting on a momentous night, he said: “It came as a surprise really. On the Monday before the awards event, I got a phone call asking if I could make it to the presentation night.

“It is great to be recognised for the time I have been involved and the number of children that I have been able to get into football. I often say to people that I’ve got the best job in the world as I’m getting paid for doing something that I love doing for nothing.”

Despite being retirement age, Gibson still offers his time to grassroots club, AFC Andrews, working with hundreds of children. He added that people from many years ago still recognised him in the community, a sign of the respect he has earned.

Gibson continued: “I now get 50-year-old men come up to me and say: ‘Hello Paul, how are you doing?’ I often say: ‘Give me a clue because you were probably about three-foot nothing!’ This would have been 40 years ago, and people still recognise me.”

Gibson has gone full circle over the span of his career within football, which has seen him positioned in varying roles of responsibility from volunteering to casual and full-time.

When asked about why he continues to volunteer, he admitted his secret to his continued drive: “It’s my love for the game. I often say to my wife that we have been married for 50 years, but I have only ever seen her for 20 because I have always been out!

“Our generation, who witnessed [England’s men winning the World Cup in] 1966, is a football generation; I often think now wouldn’t it be lovely for kids now to see England win a competition.”

Paul Gibson’s timeline in and around football

1980 – Forced to retire from football and got straight into volunteering at grassroots level
1980 – Became a founder member of Woodgate 80 FC and was a coach for 29 years
1986 – First volunteered with Leicester City in the Community
1994 – Worked at Leicester City Council delivering football sessions at schools
1990 – Worked at Leicestershire & Rutland County FA focusing on disability provision
2004 – Started role at the Football Association helping children develop their skills
2014 – Retired and started volunteering at AFC Andrews
2019 – Returned to Leicester City in the Community after 33 years away

Gibson has been commended before, with recognition for 35 years of service in both Leicestershire and in the East Midlands.

Since returning to Leicester City in the Community, Gibson has established walking football sessions and is a key instigator of sessions at Aylestone Meadows that has benefitted many children and adults.

Images courtesy of Simon Kimber.