A Wales international has won the Football League's Player in the Community award for going the extra mile to help youngsters — with a letter revealing his heartwarming and inspiring words to one young fan.
Will Vaulks, the Rotherham and Wales midfielder who made his international debut last month against Trinidad and Tobago, picked up the EFL Award for his selfless work with kids in the Millers' community.
He's been called "the best human being" by his manager and widely applauded on social media.
Times journalist Henry Winter shared the words Vaulks wrote to the youngster, who was struggling with his confidence. Vaulks found out from the Rotherham ticket office where the fan sat in the New York Stadium and presented him with the letter before warming up for a home game against Bolton.
The letter began: "You owe your mum for this so you have to do all the housework for the whole week! Just kidding!
"I hear you've been struggling a little with bouncing back from making mistakes and believing in yourself. Well, guess what? So do I!
"And nearly every professional football I know. But we learn little things to help. So here's some tips for you that help me."
The letter goes on to advise the youngster — "enjoy it, smile, laugh, work hard... be happy" — with Vaulks explaining to the EFL why he felt compelled to offer his free time up, adding that he was inspired himself as a youngster by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.
"I was sat after training playing my Xbox, it was a couple of years ago I was 23 and I thought 'what am I doing here? I need to be doing something better'," said Vaulks.
"I remember going to Newcastle's training ground — I was a Newcastle fan as a kid — and Alan Shearer touched the top of my head and that was the greatest day of my life.
"I'm not saying I'm Alan Shearer but for us to just put a smile on kids' faces is not hard."
"I'm all about the human being at this club and Will is about the best human being I've got," said Rotherham boss Paul Warne.
"By the way he lives his life and the way he trains, he gets utmost respect from the lads. He isn't fake for anyone, he isn't false. He epitomises the 'we' and not the 'me'.
"Hopefully if he can be a bit of sunshine on a cloudy day for people, what better gift is there to give?"
The handwritten letter he wrote
