Deceuninck has donated £500 to Southampton Football Club’s Saints Foundation.
MD Rob McGlennon, presented the cheque to Michael Pearce, a volunteer football coach with the foundation who provides football courses to children with disabilities.
Michael’s father is Deceuninck Dispatch Manager Graham Pearce, who explained: “Michael suffers from mild cerebral palsy and learning difficulties, but that has never dampened his love of football. Despite the slight impairments to his health, Michael has always loved playing the sport, joining able bodied teams where possible.
“When Michael was given the opportunity to play with the Saints Foundation, it levelled the playing field, and he got so much enjoyment from it.”
Michael has proved himself to be a natural talent, when he represented England in a CP Football tournament.
“I’m so proud to have played for my country,” he said. “No-one can ever take that away from me. And I want to give something back to the football club that I’ve been involved with for such a long time.
“And I want to be able to inspire the young disabled players coming through to show them it doesn’t matter what disability you have, you can still play football.”
During lockdown, Michael did an FA coaching course, and he is now a volunteer coach with the Saints Foundation.
Michael has also become rather an ambassador for the foundation. His story has been viewed more than 1,300 times on YouTube, which was also picked up by the BBC and featured on the One Show earlier this year.
