Former Sunderland, Raith Rovers, Berwick Rangers, Morton and Queen of the South striker Warren Hawke usually has one community on his mind however over the next couple of weeks he will have two.
Hawke, who works as a Consultant for Club Development at Morton, has over the past 2 years started a programme to integrate the Cappielow club deep into their local Greenock community from a very early age.
Whilst that role usually takes up Hawke’s thoughts completely he is allowing himself to drift back to his native north-east of England as Sunderland gear up for the Capital One Cup Final against Manchester City on March 2.
Not only will Hawke be as excited as any fan on Tyneside about the Black Cat’s Final appearance but he will be able to empathise with the players in their famous red and white striped jerseys as he wore one in a Cup Final himself.
Before becoming a regular goalscorer this side of the border Hawke ‘lived the dream’ of being a local Sunderland boy coming on as a substitute in the 1992 FA Cup Final against Liverpool. That showpiece was lost 2-0 and having waited over two decades to get to another Final, Hawke knows what the people of Sunderland will be doing come the first Sunday in March.
Hawke said: “It will be a mass exodus with the last person out of the town asked to turn the lights out. It has been 22 years since Sunderland were last in a Final so it is safe to say that they do not come along too often. “
“There will be a huge sense of occasion and the community of Sunderland will rally behind their team. They will make sure our Newcastle neighbours know that we are in a Final. Manchester City are huge favourites but this could be the time for Sunderland to win again.”
“There will be an enormous sense of excitement and it would be great to reach those heights in Greenock at some time in the future.”
Hawke added: “I am passionate about both clubs and far more positive about what the season could bring for both of them than I was before Christmas. It was looking grim for both sides after poor starts to the season but Morton are four games undefeated and Sunderland just won six out of eight games.”
“Winning 3-0 away to Newcastle was a real highlight and they drew one game as well. The one they lost was the semi-final second leg against Manchester United which they won on penalties. They lost to Hull last weekend which was disappointing but they will bounce back from that I am sure.”
As for the Cappielow side Hawke said: “Morton have merited more points than they have secured so far under Kenny Shiels. They are playing a good attractive style of football under Kenny and results will come.”
Whilst Hawke can watch the Sunderland community prepare for their final from nearly 200 miles away his work takes him right into the heart of the Inverclyde community through the delivery of coaching football.
The now 43 year old Strongman Competitor explained his role: “We have the club Greenock Morton Football Club Limited and they look after the Club Academy Teams – the Pro-Youth initiatives from under-11 upward.”
“What we also have is the Greenock Morton Community Trust (GMCT)which is the charity and community arm and the one I am heavily involved in. It looks to provide a pathway into football from the age of 2. That is where Micro Morton starts and that leads to mini-Morton and then being involved in playing football up to age 11.”
“Micro Morton are classes for children at pre-school age who want to engage with physical activity. These children would then progress to the Mini Morton and Morton Girls’ sessions allowing them the play football for enjoyment while increasing physical activity and engaging with community. “
Hawke confirmed: “It is all about mass participation and enjoyment under the Morton brand name.”
It is not a one man operation as Tom Elliott was brought on board last April after a fine stint developing community activities at Falkirk with PR & Fundraising Manager, Karen Welsh also recruited.
Hawke said: “They have been two great additions. We won a watch in getting Tom after his time at Falkirk had finished and his energy really helps build our activities. Karen is also helping push the Community Trust into the Community and for it to be seen as a positive choice for parents to send their children to.”
Sean Crighton, who plays as a centre back for Elgin but lives local to Greenock, is a contracted coach and there are a further two full time coaches and 12 sessional coaches used for the delivery of all Micro, Mini and Morton Girls sessions.
Hawke added: “We believe that GMCT are ‘The Heartbeat of Inverclyde’. There is a player pathway available to all boys and girls in Inverclyde. From the age of two they can become part of the Morton family, wearing the Morton badge with pride. “
“From then the direction both boys and girls can progress is by joining our newly formed community teams.”
“We will have teams at 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 playing in the Paisley and Johnstone District League against other Boys Clubs. They will play at 4 asides and 7 a-sides and build themselves up to playing the 11 a side game.”
To help build those community teams a merger is happening just now between First Touch Football Coaching and the Community Trust with Hawke saying: “First Touch was formed in 2003 by John McClurg, Des McCole and Billy Clark and they are a self-funded voluntary organisation which has grown from 30 players and 5 coaches to more than 65 youngsters, and around 15 coaches.
“They deliver an excellent programme in terms of teaching football skills. They have developed players to a sufficiently high technical level that they have moved on to full time sides like Rangers and St Mirren and other teams as well but only a few have gone to Morton.”
“Merging allows their players a more direct pathway to becoming a senior Morton player and ensures that we have a greater opportunity to keep the local talent local. Good youngsters from the area do not need to travel elsewhere to get the chance of senior football.”
It’s a fantastic player pathway that will be overseen under the leadership of Tom and Hawke said: “2014 has brought an exciting start for the Community Trust and we are delighted that Kenny Shiels was able to attend a merger presentation and speak about the vision of the community trust and the football club.”
Also meeting the parents of children at First Touch were Morton Director Crawford Rae and Elliott along with First touch coaches John and Des.
Hawke said: “I wanted to explain who Greenock Morton Community Trust were and what their objectives are. As a charitable trust the aim is to engage with social inclusion projects while utilising the power of the Morton brand to add value across all community trust initiatives.
“There will not be many changes for the players in the interim although GMCT have added a weekly drop-in Physiotherapy Clinic run by Morton’s Youth Academy physio, Susan Wilson.”
“The Morton Community Club will include all teams that have currently been playing under the First Touch banner.”
It is not just for the boys as Hawke explained: “After the Micro and Mini Morton sessions boys can play organised football in the community teams but we have also recently launched Morton Girls who will play at under 9, 11, 13 and 15 as well as having a senior team as well.”
“Leeanne McPhail, who was voted ‘The Best Volunteer Coach’ by the SFA last year in their Grassroots Award programme has helped set the Morton Girls up with the assistance of Corrie Campbell who is the SFA’s West Region Football development Officer”
Hawke finished by saying: “I am looking forward to watching our new Morton Community Club teams when the season starts next month. I am also looking forward to seeing how the community of Sunderland get on at Wembley.”
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