Dan Coppard honoured with Community Captain award
Dan Coppard’s amazing contribution to Albion in the Community was recognised with a Premier League Community Captain award.
Dan has been involved with Albion in the Community for eight years now. He’s a key member of Brighton & Hove Albion Amputee FC, and since 2018 he’s also been a community coach at our disability football sessions.
The award was presented to him in recognition of his outstanding commitment to Albion in the Community.
Dan said: “I started off as a player eight years ago, then to have the opportunity to become a coach with AITC and to get to where I am now it’s been absolutely amazing.”
“When I was younger I played some sports – I used to do martial arts and played some football – but I stopped for quite a while.
“Then I got introduced to AITC and have been really enjoying it. I get so much more out of the game with what I do now and it’s really benefitted my enjoyment of sport.”
For Dan, who is an Albion fan and regular at the Amex, the chance to represent the club through BHAAFC means the world to him.
“It’s great honour to play under the badge,” he said. “I’ve taken the ball out on the Amex pitch before an Albion match – and played on it too; that’s all been down to AITC. It’s been fantastic.”
Dan’s award was given out when the Premier League trophy was brought to the Amex last month, as part of a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Premier League.
Participants in our disability football programme (which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary) were given the chance to see the trophy in the flesh and pose for a photo.
Participants were treated to an exclusive tour of the Amex stadium and Albion stars Guy Butters, Andrew Crofts, and Gary Dicker came along for a meet & greet and to take part in some fun drills.
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Martin Perry, was also at the Amex and presented the Premier League Community Captain award to Dan.
Find out more about our disability football programme: https://bhafcfoundation.org.uk/football-participation/disability-football/