Simone Magill has been named as Everton Women's Professional Footballers' Association Community Champion for the 2020/21 season.
The 26-year-old forward has spent the past year volunteering to help Everton in the Community in what has been a challenging period through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PFA Community Champion award recognises players who go above and beyond to help those in need in their local community and beyond.
The Northern Ireland international says she felt honoured to be recipient for this award.
"It’s been a tough year for everyone," Magill told evertonfc.com.
"To be able to play my part in trying to bring some joy to our members in the community gives me great pleasure.
"Over the past year I’ve been involved in lots of different ways with our Everton in the Community participants.
💥 | "It's definitely one of the best goals I've ever scored!"@SimoneMagill on her stunning volley that 𝘆𝗼𝘂 voted as @Everton's Goal of the Month! 🙌@Davanti_Tyres 🔵 #EFC pic.twitter.com/bULiXKeI9y
— Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) May 12, 2021
"I’ve done a bedtime reading story for kids and made surprise phone calls to some of our members within the Everton Women’s disability teams.
"Aside from that I’ve also done some of my own charity work whereby I raffled some match-worn boots and shirts of mine with all proceeds going to my charity, Northern Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, where I’ve been an ambassador for a few years now.
"I appreciate it was a very difficult year for everyone and I wanted to try to give back in any shape or form I could."
Magill's passion for community work grew stronger when she joined Everton, as the Blues star wanted to grow her connection with fans by working with the Club's official charity, Everton in the Community.
"I’ve always been passionate with helping out within the community," she added.
"When I first came to Everton many years ago, I saw first-hand how much the Club and Charity valued being the People’s Club by helping out within the local community and I absolutely loved it.
"It’s so important to give back to the community and by doing small acts of kindness it really goes such a long way in helping bring some form of joy and happiness to those who may need it.
"This year has been tough not having fans in the stadiums with us, we’ve all missed having them so much and I think that’s why this year more so than any it was so important to keep that interaction going between us and the fans."
The Everton forward encouraged more members of the community to get involved.
"For anyone who is looking to get involved within their local community I say go for it," added Magill.
"It will honesty go such a long way in helping others.
"When I first started I had no idea the impact doing just some small acts of kindness could bring to people.
"Something that could take five minutes out of my day could make someone’s whole entire day that little bit better and that’s something I would love for others to embrace and give a go."
For more information, visit evertoninthecommunity.org
