Johnny Pride, a pupil in Year 7 has been awarded a Citizenship Award by the UK Education Guide. The award recognises Johnny’s fantastic efforts to raise over £10,000 for Parkinson’s UK earlier this year. 

Johnny organised and undertook the challenge of walking 81 miles from his home to Wembley to coincide with one of the England Euro games. He was inspired to raise money for the charity as his Grandfather had suffered with Parkinsons for 20 years before he died in the Summer of 2021. His impressive feat attracted significant radio and press coverage.

His father says: “Sport mad as Johnny is, and utterly obsessed with football, we went via the Madjeski stadium, where Johnny was presented with a signed first team shirt. We then walked onto Wembley. It was a fab journey, in which he was interviewed most days on various radio stations including Five Live, Radio One and BBC Radio Berkshire and got some great press coverage. We are enormously proud of what he has achieved”

In addition to the award which was announced on 26 November, Johnny has also been selected to play in the Gothia Cup Tournament, which is billed as ‘one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world’. Each year, around 1,700 teams from 80 nations take part, playing 4,500 matches on 110 pitches. 

Johnny will be playing in Gothenburg next Summer, where he will receive top quality coaching and attend workshops run by the coaching staff and physiotherapists on issues such as nutrition and hydration, sports psychology and injury prevention. 

Sam Hewick, Director of Sport at Pangbourne College says: “This is a superb achievement for Johnny who, through our Sports Performance Programme, is enjoying the opportunity to pursue his love of football at school. The Gothia Cup Tournament is a wonderful opportunity to meet and make friends with players from different cultures and backgrounds, as well as develop his football skills.

His achievements both on and off the pitch are superb examples of our Flag Values; particularly those of Industry, Initiative, Resilience, Selflessness and Kindness. I’m sure he will have a bright future.”