CARSHALTON ATHLETIC will welcome ex-Chelsea and England star Ray Wilkins MBE to Colston Avenue this Saturday to help celebrate being named FA Community Club of the Year.
The Robins scooped three titles at regional, county and national levels as, in just five years, the club has become the country's leading community club with over 2,000 members and 500 football players from all age groups and genders.
Ray Wilkins played at Chelsea in the 1970s, where he went on to captain the team at aged 18, and also notably played for Manchester United, AC Milan and QPR while earning 84 caps for his country.
Upon receiving the top gong at Wembley Stadium last autumn, Sutton Borough Leader of the Council Ruth Dombey wrote: “I know that Carshalton's volunteers and supporters are quite rightly passionate and enthusiastic about the services they provide to the local community. We are very lucky in Sutton to have people who care so deeply about the future of our young people.”
Wilkins will be at the ground before the Robins' match against Bury Town on Saturday to check on the club's progress and oversee some of the junior training sessions that will be taking place. Local MP Tom Brake will also be there to support the cause.
“Carshalton Athletic's success in the FA Community Awards last year was a fantastic achievement and is a testament to the club's work ethic and commitment to offering football for all,” Surrey County FA CEO Ray Ward commented.
“The Robins offer a superb model on how a football club should be run, not just in Surrey, but across the whole country.”
Director of the Ryman League Nick Robinson visited Colston Avenue for the first time in two years last week and was “most impressed” by the improvements he saw.
“I was particularly impressed by the work which has been done by our ‘Club for the Community', particularly the use of their ‘Moderate your language' signs which I would like to see at clubs throughout all our leagues.”
The club also hosts other community sports, such as martial arts and dancing, and aims to start a daily children's nursery this summer.
Over the past 12 months Carshalton Athletic has also helped deliver over 200 local community events and raised money for the likes of the Royal Marsden hospital, Help for Heroes, The Liam Hearne Tribute Fund, Bliss, The NSPCC, Sports Relief and the Lennox Children Cancer Charity along the way.
Club owner Paul Dipre, who re-built the club from a desperate position just five years ago, said: “Not everyone agrees with the way we run our club but our values are of equality, community and kindness foremost. I would like to thank all of those who have supported our ambitions; there are many volunteers and staff who will also be very proud.”
