FOUNDATION: VINNIE BECOMES AN AMBASSADOR

FOUNDATION: VINNIE BECOMES AN AMBASSADOR

United icon puts his name to the Foundation's Ability Counts programme...

Former Leeds United star Vinnie Jones has become an official ambassador for the Leeds United Foundation.

Jones, who was a key part United's much-heralded 1990 Second Division title-winning team, becomes the Ambassador for the Foundation’s flagship disability programme, ‘Ability Counts’.

Ability Counts supports thousands of individuals lead more active and healthier lives, delivering over 6,000 cerebral palsy sessions every year as well as helping those with physical, sensory, learning, mental and pervasive challenges.

The star, who has featured in film hits including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Swordfish and X-Men 3, becomes the second official appointment following the footsteps of ‘Leeds Warrior’, Josh Warrington, in supporting the club’s official charity.

Jones said: "It's an absolute honour to become an Ambassador for the Leeds United Foundation and the Ability Counts Programme.

"The Foundation helps thousands of people with physical and mental disabilities every year and is a cause really close to my heart.

"Leeds United is a magnificent club with magnificent supporters and the work the Foundation do as the clubs own charity really helps bind the community together and unite the city.

"It's a real hidden gem and I am proud to support the Foundation. We will make a difference, we will March on Together"

Simon Fox, Head of Partnership Development for the Foundation, said: “Vinnie is a global icon in both the football and movie world.

"It is a landmark moment for the Foundation to attract someone of his calibre and standing and it will allow us to strengthen our hugely successful disability programme and gain additional support.

"As a player, he was a no-nonsense, tough-tackling midfielder who played in teams who believed in themselves and made the very best of their skills, a key message Ability Counts passes on every day.

"Vinnie in every single home game for Leeds United used to greet, talk to and shake hands with our pitch side fans who had a range of disabilities and that is testimony both to his character and the relevance he has to our flagship programme."

Ability Counts works with young people as young as 4 years old up to 56 years of age and is recognised as one of the largest disability coaching programmes in the UK. 
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