Doncaster star Joseph Olowu opens up on community hero role after EFL award win

The community work undertaken by football clubs has never felt more important given the happenings of the today. And for Doncaster Rovers, nobody gives more to the cause than Joseph Olowu.

Olowu, 25, was named League Two's Community Player of the Season earlier this week in recognition of his stellar work representing the club. He has delivered anti-bullying and anti-racist workshops and regularly attends disability sessions delivered by the Club's Charity. The fact that he has even started learning sign language to help communicate with participants of the scheme speaks volumes of the central defender's desire to give something back.

Recognition for his efforts is a bonus for Olowu, who credits his parents for shaping his relentless work ethic. And he has first-hand experience of how impactful these community visits can be for children from his own youth growing up in Bermondsey.

"When I was nine a professional footballer came in and because of what I'd done in school, the teacher singled me out," Olowu recalls. "He then came and gave me free tickets to a football game and like a chocolate selection box. Now I look at it like, 'Okay, how would a younger Joseph have appreciated these things?' with the things we do.

"The smallest of things can make the biggest of differences."

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Among Olowu's 19 players visits this season, he is a big supporter of the 'Football Welcomes' refugee scheme. His background, having been born in Nigeria, helps him forge a personal connection with those who are participating.

Olowu's working class background means he has never lost touch of reality despite spending eight years on the books of after being spotted at the age of 13 by a scout, but his community commitments help keep him in the real world.

He adds: "It allows me to emphasise with people and to take myself out of my own position of privilege. Because being a professional footballer is a privileged position to be in but it's about keeping in reality because we're still human beings. It's a chance to give something back."

While Olowu is currently focused on Doncaster's push for promotion - albeit he will play no further part this campaign after undergoing surgery on a thigh issue - he speaks with a wisdom beyond his years. He comes across as an individual who could transcend football in the future.

It's fitting, then, that he references the stellar work of when he's asked to try and put into words how powerful a tool sport - and in particular football - can be beyond the pitch.

"There's a massive part for footballers to play," he says instantly. "It's probably the most watched sport and it carries the most influence. You'd be surprised [at the impact it can have]. Look at the things Marcus has done; that's a professional footballer doing that. So you think, if there were more footballers almost stepping forward and going, 'You know what? We've got a platform, lets use it', who knows [what we can do].

"You've got footballers that have millions of followers. They can say something and kids jump at it. So if they were to push a message of positivity and a message of trying to encourage kids [it can help]. The new series on , Adolescence, I believe the guy that wrote it, he was talking about how it was more so a message for society to ask everyone, like, we should all be held accountable because of what's going on with younger children.

"Young kids are stabbing and hurting each other, and it's for the people in the right places - and in this example, footballers - to kind of come to the forefront and be expressive about how we can make things better for young children."

Olowu has found a home away from home in Doncaster, but his passion for helping others mean he is still having an affect back in Bermondsey, where he mentors a teenager he was introduced to by the pastor at his local church. There are some who talk the talk about being force for good; Olowu not only walks the walk, but he clocks up some pretty impressive miles.

Doncaster is a world away - both figuratively and literally - from Olowu's upbringing in Bermondsey. After being released by Arsenal, he penned a short-term to move north in a bid to kickstart his career and the rest, as they say, is history.

Four years on and Olowu has become enamoured with the slower pace of life in south Yorkshire. He cites the ability to walk undetected on the eve of a match as one of his favourite ways to unwind. \There is no escaping the relentless cut and thrust of the League Two promotion race, though.

"We were confident off the back of what we were able to achieve last season. Naturally going into this season there was always going to be a lot of expectation. I think a lot of clubs are watching you and that changes the dynamic of things. We've felt that all throughout the season. But it is the price you pay for producing, you know, and going on a run that we did last year and this season.

"We've put ourselves in a great position and it's on us to capitalise."

Doncaster and Olowu may be consumed by the goal of promotion but, as always, he sees the bigger picture. And regardless of what league Olowu will be playing next season, his goal off the pitch will remain the same.

"The world's in a very interesting place at the moment," he concludes. "It's about trying to help the younger generation kind of see that there's another five, 10, 20 years to look ahead to. I don't think many kids can see past the age of 20, 21 or even 25, but there's a lot of life to live.

"I think for me it's just trying to help them [see that] as much as possible, just try and open their eyes to that. And if there is anyway I can, I'm more than willing to do so."

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