George Honoured for Community Work

George Edmundson has been named the EFL Player in the Community for League One.

The defender, who took on an Ambassador role for the Ipswich Town Foundation’s disability provision in January, has given up his time to engage with fans throughout the current season across Ipswich and the wider Suffolk community.

George’s impact in the community is perhaps best known through the unique and heartwarming relationship he has built with the Foundation’s adult disability side.

The 25-year-old first met the group in March of last year and has been a regular attendee at training sessions on weekday evenings ever since, also supporting from the sidelines when they take part in competitive fixtures and tournaments.

Having, in his own words, ‘fallen in love with the players’, George took it upon himself to purchase a home strip for the full squad, which he presented to them back in August.

He took on the aforementioned Ambassador role at the beginning of the year as a further show of his support to the Foundation’s vital work in the local community, and in particular the disability provision.

George’s commitment and genuine passion, which often goes unseen and unpublicised, has undoubtedly made a monumental difference to participants and supporters.

“I’m proud to have been recognised in this way,” he told the Foundation website.

“While it is an individual award, it is also a reflection of the commitment that all of the players have shown towards giving back to the community.

“The Foundation makes a huge difference to so many people in the local area and I have absolutely loved getting more involved in supporting their work this season.”

Rotherham’s Hakeem Odoffin has received the Championship award, while Omar Beckles of Leyton Orient picked up the League Two gong.

The achievements of all three players will be marked during an event hosted in Parliament on Monday, 17 April.

An overall winner of the EFL Player in the Community will then be announced at the 2023 EFL Awards on Sunday, 23 April.