Norwich City players secure disability sport funding with £80,000 wage donation
The contribution, made in February, protects a year of services for teams supporting wheelchair, Down’s syndrome, and cerebral palsy participants, as well as mental health programmes.
Norwich City players have donated one day’s wages, totalling approximately £80,000, to the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (CSF) to secure a year of disability sport sessions. The contribution, organised by club captain Kenny McLean, was made in February to address funding challenges facing the charity’s operations.
McLean, who visited the CSF on Wednesday to participate in a kickabout, stated that the intervention was a necessary response to the charity’s precarious financial position. He noted that the funding for the CSF had been “in a bit of jeopardy,” prompting the squad to utilise their platform to ensure continuity of services.
The donation protects essential programmes for wheelchair, Down’s syndrome, and cerebral palsy teams, alongside mental health initiatives. McLean expressed hope that the contribution would mark the beginning of more proactive support from the squad in the future, emphasising the responsibility of professional athletes to assist community organisations.
Stevie Bramble, the CSF’s director of educational programmes, described McLean as a “positive” role model. Bramble highlighted the captain’s willingness to give up time ahead of the World Cup to support the foundation, noting that the players’ generosity had secured all disabled sport provisions for another year.
During the visit, McLean was presented with the PFA Community Player of the Year award for his efforts. The 34-year-old has had a significant season, helping steer Norwich City away from relegation in the Championship and scoring from the halfway line to aid Scotland’s qualification for the World Cup finals in November.
Bramble thanked McLean for being “inspirational” in securing player buy-in for the cause. The director of educational programmes confirmed that the foundation’s provision for disabled sport is now stable for the coming year, directly attributable to the squad’s collective decision to donate their earnings.
