FORMER Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown said his early experiences in Oxfordshire’s local youth leagues gave him the perfect grounding for a successful professional career.

Keown won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup during his hugely successful stint with the Gunners, as well as earning 43 England caps.

But he started out in local youth leagues around Oxfordshire and Keown, who lives in Jericho, is grateful for the support he received during his formative years.

“It was only later when I looked back on it that I realised the work that some people put in to wash the kit, travel with us to games and take training,” he said.

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“They gave up a huge amount of their own free time so that we could play football.

“The local football club is really important within the community as a way of building friendships with other people in the area.”

Keown began at Garsington before moving on to Marston Saints, where he played alongside future Leicester City midfielder Garry Parker, now coach at Bolton Wanderers.

“We actually played together for England Under 21s and it’s quite unusual to get two players together at that level from the same local team,” Keown said.

“Marston Saints played really good football, we were well coached and there were some great players there at the time.

“I think to really develop as a player you need to be surrounded by other strong players.

“It all comes from the manager and coach and I was very lucky to have some great ones.”

In particular, Keown remembers George Wakefield and Steve McInerney, his coaches at Garsington, as well as Marston Saints coach Den Exell and PE teachers Nick Brown and Eric Metcalfe as being instrumental in his development.

He has since watched his two sons, Callum and Niall, play for various clubs in the Oxford Mail Youth League, including Wheatley, Oxford City, Summertown Stars and Kidlington, and has been impressed by the continued quality of local football coaching.

Having recently been appointed McDonald’s Head of English Football, Keown wants to see local grassroots heroes nominated for the FA Community Awards, presented by McDonalds.

Winners of the national award will receive their honours at Wembley Stadium ahead of the FA Community Shield final in August.

“It’s about rewarding local people and saying ‘thank you’ for all they’ve done,” he said.

“It’s a pat on the back for people who give up their own time – often with little recognition – to give kids a chance to play football.

“It could be the groundsman, manager, the people who wash the kit or drive kids to matches.

“They’re the unsung heroes of English football.”

  • Keown is urging local communities to nominate a #GrassrootsHero for the 2015 FA Community Awards, presented by McDonald’s. To nominate a club, league, coach or volunteer, visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/awards