Bringing out match ball a 'lifetime experience'

A award-winning football volunteer has described bringing out the match ball ahead of the Community Shield match as "amazing".

Darren Richards, 54, recently won regional and national New Volunteer of the Year awards for his work as Redditch Borough FC's director of inclusive and disability football.

Mr Richards received the national honour from the FA, which allowed him to walk out onto the turf of Wembley Stadium ahead of the match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool on Sunday.

"The whole day from start to finish, it was just a lifetime experience rolled into one day, it really was, it's brilliant," he said.

Mr Richards, who also won Worcestershire FA's regional award earlier in the year, met players including John Barnes and former England striker Emile Heskey ahead of the game, which saw FA cup holders Crystal Palace win on penalties.

Speaking of the day, Mr Richards described how he stepped off the tube at Wembley Park stadium and was greeted by a 10-metre long banner, which included a photo of his face.

"Then we carried on making our way to Wembley and then my name was up in lights across the stadium, with another photo of myself, which was totally unbelievable," he explained.

Mr Richards met footballers including former England striker Emile Heskey on Sunday

Mr Richards said receiving the recognition made him feel "immensely proud" of himself and his football club, which also has two youth teams.

He said the club tried to cater for everybody, "no matter what their ability or inability," and that everyone was welcome to come along and join in.

"We started off last September without any players," he said.

"Now we have two adult football teams that we run training on on a Thursday night and we play in the Worcester Ability Counts Football League."

As part of the honour, Mr Richards was able to walk the match ball through the tunnel to place it onto the podium for the referee to pick up before kick off.

"The ref then collects it and walks it to just inside the pitch ready for the national anthem," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"But what an experience, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Ian Rush, how many millions of pound worth of player walking past me... within an arm's reach.

"It's just an amazing experience."