We are delighted to announce Conor McCarthy has been named PFA Community Champion for the 2022/2023 season. The award recognises and champions players all around the country who give most back to their communities. 

Conor was nominated by the team at Reds in the Community this year, for the work he has done particularly within the education department. After damaging his ACL in late September, Conor took on the role of Education Ambassador throughout the charity and academy education departments. While in rehabilitation and studying a master’s degree the defender devoted his time to share his experiences with young players and his passion about the importance of getting qualifications as a fall-back should the worst happen. 

Head of Education at Reds in the Community and Barnsley FC, Mark Crossfield said: ‘After getting to know Conor and his background it was brilliant to discover that he had completed a degree whilst being a professional football player and is currently studying a masters. It became apparent that he was the perfect fit to become our Education Ambassador. He is a real role model and has said yes to everything we have asked of him. I believe that this has helped him especially with his injury at the moment giving him something else to get involved with and focus on. This award is 100% deserved and we hope to continue working with Conor going forward.’ 

When asked about the role and award Conor added: ‘We had a press day just before the start of the season and Reds in the Community asked if we wanted to volunteer. ‘There were different avenues to go down – visiting hospitals and charity work. I have a background of education and put that down, not knowing what would come out of it.  

A few months later Mark came up to me and said if I’d be interested in helping (young players) and I said I’d be more than happy to help. My first port of call was to do a Q&A with the students at Reds in the Community who deliver a course that combines education and football and I’m speaking from experience at the moment with my injury that education is extremely important and if football was to be taken away, I would have education to fall back on. 

I’m absolutely delighted about receiving this award I was doing the role to give back and winning the award is the cherry on top of the cake. I’m really happy.  

All at Reds in the Community send a final well done and thankyou to Conor for his work this season and hope that to continue working with him going forward.