Alfie Mawson and Charlie Daniels have become the first British footballers to sign up to Juan Mata’s Common Goal project under which participants donate a percentage of their salary to charity.
Mawson, the Swansea and England Under-21 defender, and Daniels, the Bournemouth defender, take the number of people who have joined Mata in the initiative to 11. Each of those, comprising 10 players and the Hoffenheim head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has pledged to donate at least 1% of their earnings.
“I’ve experienced pretty much everything that you can live as a player in England – maybe that’s why I’ll never forget where I’ve come from,” said Daniels. “Football is such an important part of my life, as it is for so many people in this country. It just seems right that our national sport gives something back to society.”
The 31-year-old, who has spent much of his career in League One, notably with Leyton Orient, added: “If my pledge can help spread the idea of Common Goal, especially among the younger players, then it will be one of the proudest achievements of my career.”
Mawson, who is 23, said: “It was only a few years ago that I was playing non-league and helping out my dad at the weekends with his market stall. I’m now at a great place and I want to concentrate 100% on my football.
“I don’t want to cause any fuss or anything but joining Common Goal allows me to focus on my career while forming part of something that can really help transform lives of those less fortunate. It’s a good thing for football.”
Manchester United’s Mata launched the project in August. “I’ve been speaking to several English players who have shown an interest in Common Goal and it’s brilliant that Charlie and Alfie are the first players to make the pledge,” he said.