The 2011 Football League Awards take place on Sunday and in the build-up to the prestigious ceremony we are focusing on those in contention to receive awards on the night.  Here we look at PFA Player in the Community and review the clubs in contention for the award.

PFA PLAYER IN THE COMMUNITY

JUDGING CRITERIA:

For this award clubs were asked to nominate one player from their first-team squad that they felt had played the most significant part in supporting the Club's community programme during the 2010 calendar year. In selecting an overall winner, the judges were looking to recognise the player whose involvement in the community has gone above and beyond that which would normally be expected, either across a broad range of community programmes or in support of one particular activity.

SHORTLIST:

Darren Moore - Burton Albion
This season Darren has taken on the role of player liaison at Burton Albion and has increased player appearance from 60 last season to over 100, all of which have really made an impact. Darren understands the importance of engaging the local community and has adopted a local primary school and become their ambassador. He hold regular talks with the pupils and the school are now creating work alongside their curriculum based around his involvement. Darren continues his work with his own charity 'Faith & Football' which provides a range of community, educational and overseas programmes, using Football as a platform for relationship building. Burton Albion Chairman, Ben Robinson said of Darren 'Our club have seen firsthand how sport can inspire people and Darren has certainly maintained that tradition, being a great ambassador for Burton Albion and showing a tremendous commitment to work within and supporting our local community'. Darren goes far beyond what is expected from a professional sportsman, he has led the player community work and this had a lasting impression on the local residents, programmes and fellow professional footballers.

Aaron Mokoena - Portsmouth
Aaron is a player that is exceptionally committed to giving something back to the community - both in Portsmouth and in his native South Africa. Aaron set up his own foundation, The Aaron Mokoena Foundation, in South Africa in May 2009, and in the UK in January 2010. The staggering commitment that Aaron continues to make to his foundation to ensure it makes a sustainable difference for young people in South Africa is incredible. The inspiration for his Foundation is Aaron's desire to increase and improve opportunities for children and young people across South Africa using the power of football to impact on education, health and life opportunities. In November 2010 Aaron Mokoena was presented with the Freedom of the City of London and he is only the second South African to be acknowledged in this way, the other being Nelson Mandela. His nomination was for his services to football and his various charitable activities. Portsmouth's' Chief Executive David Lampitt said 'Aaron has been an outstanding ambassador for Portsmouth Football Club. His profile has been elevated by his captaincy of his home nation in the World Cup last year, but it is the work that he has done close to home with our community projects and with his own charitable foundation that makes him a very special player for us. He stands out as a player that understands the importance of football's wider role in society, and he takes his own responsibilities towards others less fortunate than himself extremely seriously'.

Michael Raynes - Scunthorpe United
Michael has dedicated much of his time at Scunthorpe United to helping a local five year old boy who has cerebral palsy, Dylan Storey. The pair first met last summer at the team's official photo-shoot where Dylan was invited to have a photo taken by the club to help raise awareness in the local community around his cause. Michael took it upon himself to meet with Dylan and his family in order to find out how he could help as his own brother too suffers with cerebral palsy. Michael has encouraged other players and staff to support to the cause and on the night of the Manchester United game Dylan was made the club mascot and match day bucket collections were organised with all proceeds going towards an operation that would enrich Dylan's life. Michael has worked alongside the club to organise a fundraising ball in April to raise money for Dylan's Dream. It is plain to see that Michael is not just an outstanding player, but a fantastic role model to those around him and an excellent patron in promoting Dylan's Dream.