Chris Richards honoured by PFA as Crystal Palace & USMNT star lauded for amazing community work

The versatile centre back and defensive midfielder has established himself in the Crystal Palace first team this season after arriving from Bayern Munich in 2022. And off the pitch, he's had a major impact in south London generally, working closely with the Palace For Life Foundation throughout his time at the club. At the annual PFA awards, he's been honoured for that work.

Each year, the PFA pays tribute to players who have gone above and beyond for their club’s local communities, and Richards certainly fits that description. He's consistently shown up for community events since joining Palace, contributing to the club's efforts to maintain strong roots in the local area.

Richards regularly turns up at Palace for Life events and has also attended a Black History Month workshop at a school near Selhurst Park. Asked about his community work, Richards said: “It’s a good experience to be around the kids and I just feel like I’m at home. It’s good to be a role model and set a good example for them."

Things have been going well for Richards on the pitch, too. For the 10th consecutive season, Crystal Palace have secured a comfortable mid-table Premier League finish after accumulating over 40 points. They finish the season with a home fixture against Aston Villa, but first up they must navigate a tricky trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.