Defender Praises Club's Collective Community Effort
“I don’t mind it (being on hand) to be honest,” admits Demetiou.“I would rather do that than travel an hour into work. I enjoy it and I’m happy to be able to do it.”
And for ex-England C international Demetriou, living in Shrewsbury means he is on hand for more community projects, something he is more than happy to help with.
“You look at Woodsy (Ryan Woods) and Connor (Goldson) who have come through the youth ranks and you never know there might be another one coming through in five years time.
"Hopefully it's one of them and they’ll go on and do some of the things we’ve done this year and bring some more through, that’s the main thing and as long as their enjoying it we are happy to do it.
“Hopefully they’re going to be fans or hopefully they’ll be players for the club at some point,” says Demetriou.
And the former Kidderminster man believes that the work the club do now with the younger generation of the community can help raise younger supporters and perhaps even the next Ryan Woods or Connor Goldson.
“I was speaking to Jamie (Edwards) and he said they had only done 30 or so visits last year and this year we have done over 360,” added Demetriou.
“That’s positive and it means that the players are getting out there and it brings a wider community to the ground to watch us play. That is what we all want, it’s what the club want for them to come and support us so for us.
“So for us just to go in and spend an hour out of the day to talk to the kids about anything they want to talk about or to go and visit them at a soccer school that we are running just over the road then there is no harm in that and as long as their smiling that’s the most important thing.”
Since the arrivals of chief executive Matt Williams and manager Micky Mellon, there has been a strong emphasis on the football club getting back out into the community, something that has been helped with the addition of Jamie Edwards as the Community Sports Trust manager.
“It’s nice to be recognised for the work we do like going into the community and schools as well as the player visits that we do, but I don’t need an award to appreciate what we do,” said a humbled Demetriou.
“I like going in and seeing the smile on the kids' faces when their team and some of the players come in and talk to them. I enjoy that and I’m happy to do it so to get an award for it is really nice.”
The 25-year-old picked up his trophy on Sunday evening following numerous visits into the Shrewsbury community throughout the season.
Defender Mickey Demetriou insists his Community Player of the Year award at the Shrewsbury Town end-of-season awards night is part of a collective effort from everyone at the Club.