This Month’s DSA Player of the Month award winner is Ben White. The 19-year-old loanee from Brighton & Hove Albion has been a brilliant addition to the County squad and his cool consistency coupled with a massive four goal-line clearances is what has won him DSA Player of the Month for September.
Ben had a massive 40% of the vote for this month and the award was presented earlier today by DSA Member Mike Smith. Mike said he voted for Ben because the defender is “a real quality player in every game”.
Mike Smith has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), chronic asthma along with other mobility issues; often physical diagnoses also bring with them mental health issues and Mike is no different in this regard. COPD describes a group of lung conditions that make it difficult to empty air out of the lungs because your airways have been narrowed. Two of these lung conditions are persistent bronchitis and emphysema, which can also occur together (British Lung Foundation). Living alone means Mike has carers attend his house once a day to prepare food and provide personal care support. Mike’s health means he has various appliances and adaptions to allow a degree of independence in his home.
Usually Mike travels to games with his assistant Stewart and it is one of a couple of times a week that Mike will venture out for some socialisation as he has to use a Nebuliser 6 times a day. This means Mike arrives for home fixtures some 90 mins before a game in order to use his nebuliser to ensure he can stay for the game. Without Stewart being able to assist him Mike would struggle to attend games although he says that “knowing the DSA are there to provide assistance and support reassures me that if Stewart can’t make a fixture I will have someone to rely on if I need them”.
If you want a chance to vote for October’s Player of the Month and the opportunity to present the winner with their trophy, anyone can join the DSA at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V6FWMB7 to qualify for the vote.
For information on support with mental health issues go to https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2017/march/-level-playing-fields-weeks-of-action-2017/