West Ham United goalkeepers Łukasz Fabiański and Jacob Knightbridge attended a recent football session held by Frontline Partnership to promote the work of the Essex-based charity.
U21s goalkeeper Knightbridge, a Brentwood local, is a regular volunteer with the organisation, based in his hometown, and was delighted to add to his busy weekly schedule with an extra visit to support the side’s football team.
Frontline offers community-based experiences to people with a learning disability and high support needs who are at risk of being excluded from many of the simple pleasures and experiences of everyday life.
One of those simple pleasures is football and Knightbridge, who volunteers every Tuesday, was delighted to support the session and see teammate Fabiański lend his time to attend too.
Knightbridge explained: “Frontline is a great charity. They provide people with a learning disability a community in Brentwood, which is so important because without Frontline they might not have these opportunities to connect through sport.
“I have been volunteering for around a year and a half and I have enjoyed it because it gives you a different outlook on life and how crucial that connection is.
“As footballers, we have a lot of time so once a week it is nice to be able to give back and alongside Łukasz attend one of the football sessions!”
Signing shirts for the organisation, the goalkeeping duo posed for photos, offered tips, and also went in goal during a dramatic penalty shootout challenge.
Chief Operations Officer Jo Rayment was appreciative of the support Knightbridge has shown to the charity’s work over the past 18 months as a volunteer, and was delighted to see the two Hammers goalkeepers take part in the football session.
On the role the young goalkeeper plays, Rayment explained: “Everyone at Frontline is really pleased to see Jacob continue his support for our charity’s work.
“He is a character that goes above and beyond to support our members and everyone who attends one of the sessions that Jacob volunteers at quickly becomes appreciative of the work he puts in.
“Having a young footballer give back to his community is brilliant to see, and our football team loved having him and Łukasz visit and get involved with training.”
Knightbridge’s work, something he has organised independently of the Club, shows a young footballer going above and beyond to help his local community.
Academy coach Mark Phillips, whose son attends one of the charity’s sessions, offered his praise to Knightbridge, and stated: “It’s so inspiring to see one of the Academy players giving his time, off his own back, to his community and supporting such a brilliant organisation.
“The charity means a lot to me on a personal level, and by coincidence it was superb to see Jacob lend his support at one of the sessions my son goes to.
“At the Academy of Football, we are all about creating good players on the pitch and good people off it, as well as young lads who respect and value their community!”
Later this year, Phillips will also be running the Three Peaks challenge, with a host of former Hammers set to support the event too.
You can find details of how to donate to the fundraiser here.
