We are delighted to announce Barry Cotter has been named PFA Community Champion for the 2023/2024 season.

The award recognises and champions players all around the country who give most back to their communities.

The Barnsley FC right back, today received his award from our Soccer Camp participant William, who has been in attendance at our Soccer Camps every day over the Easter Break. He presented Cotter with the award on the penultimate camp day in front of all other participants and PFA Community Liaison Executive Ben Parker.

Barry has been involved across multiple aspects of Community engagement throughout the season. He has shown commitment on his days off to attend sessions that tackle important issues such as Show Racism the Red Card where he interacted with Primary School students to discuss the importance of speaking out against discrimination. 

He has also been a big hit with children at our Healthy Holidays session which tackle Food Poverty and make sure children who receive free school meals still have access to food throughout the school holidays. Barry is a character in his own right, he always has a smile on his face and positive outlook we hope he continues to highlight the important work Barnsley FC Community Trust carry out throughout the Barnsley Community.

Upon receiving the award Cotter said: “It’s huge to receive this award being in a position where you can just show up and it puts a smile on a kid’s face is just absolutely huge. I’m a small town boy, so it’s an honour to be put in a position to put a smile on a kid’s face or just have that little interaction with them – something to give back. So, it’s amazing and it goes both ways; I’m probably just as happy as they are, so it’s really good.” 

PFA Community Liaison Executive, Ben Parker added: “I always love coming down to the Barnsley FC Community Trust; they’re fantastic people and have participants down here in the school holidays. From a PFA perspective, for Barry to win the award is huge – it’s a really prestigious award within the PFA and like other clubs up and down the country, you could have picked a whole host of players.“But hearing from the rest of the staff what Barry has done over the season, putting himself in difficult situations, difficult conversations and different settings probably puts him above and beyond most of his teammates. From the PFA’s perspective, it’s prestigious award and very well deserved for Barry.”

CEO of the Professional Footballers’ Association Maheta Molango added: “The PFA has once again been immensely proud of the outstanding efforts of players this season and we feel they should be recognised for their support and involvement in the local community. The Award will hopefully raise awareness of the importance many of our members attach to their roles off the pitch and highlight their continued commitment to support those most in need along with engaging in areas where they have a personal interest. We would like to offer our congratulations to this season’s recipient of the 2023/24 PFA Community Champion Award.” 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Barry for his efforts throughout the season and hope to continue to work with him in the future.