Dewan Choudhury named Lancashire FA Community Volunteer of the Year

Dewan Choudhury - Lancashire FA Community Volunteer of the Year

Dewan Choudhury has been named Lancashire’s FA Community Volunteer of the Year.

The volunteer football coach works as a Football Development Officer at Hopwood Hall College in his spare time.

Mr Choudhury helped to create the Deaf Rhinos FC several years ago and is now being recognised for the work he has done.

He said: “I've always had a love of sports and, in my spare time, I've enjoyed taking part in sport and organising sporting events in my local area.

“In 2008, I started working with deaf and hearing impaired people, helping them to get active in sports.

“I did my British Sign Language course at Hopwood Hall College to improve my communication with deaf people. In the same year, I completed my FA football coaching qualifications at the College.”

Mr Choudhury volunteers every Saturday to coach the deaf players at Hopwood Hall College Sports Arena. They now have over 40 players and in their 2015 debut season the Deaf Rhinos won the Lancashire FA Ability Counts Cup.

Iain Kay, Senior Football Development Officer for the Lancashire Football Association, commented: “Many congratulations to Dewan on winning this prestigious award. We are very grateful for all the hard work and effort he has put in as a grassroots volunteer here in Lancashire.”

Mr Choudhury's name will now be put forward to this year’s National winner for FA Volunteer of the Year, due to be announced at the end of June.