Maxence Lacroix was born in the suburbs of Paris, but his family moved him away from the city to spend his childhood in Ajat, a tiny village of around 300 people in the Dordogne.
The Lacroix family moved in as neighbours to the local mayor, who welcomed them with open arms. A connection was quickly built and the Crystal Palace player’s parents and grandparents still live in the French village.
Now 25-years-of-age, Lacroix is a Premier League footballer with all the benefits which come attached, and one of those is of course money. He’ll be richer than perhaps he ever thought possible, and wants to use some of that money to help his old village and those who still live there.
France Bleu report that whilst Lacroix loves London life and the trappings of being a Crystal Palace player, he’s still very fond of his village. The defender is quoted as saying: “It’s a beautiful village, it’s cultural, it’s historical, it’s our heritage. I’m proud of it, we have beautiful land, that’s what I like, we even have a castle.”
On his friendship with the mayor, Didier Clerjoux, Lacroix said: “I have a special bond with the mayor. When I was a baby, my parents and I came to Ajat, and the mayor welcomed us into a house next to his.
“it makes me want to help, when I can, it goes without saying.”
The Crystal Palace player learned how to play football in a pitch next to the community swimming pool in Ajat. That pool has since fallen into disrepair and the Crystal Palace player is working with the mayor to fund renovations and get it open again so the village can benefit: “My great-grandfather built this pool, my mother swam there, I got my swimming certificate there, we are trying to find everything necessary to open it. I’ll help financially, to help people here so they have everything they need.”
The mayor says Lacroix has a “good head” on him, understands rural issues and wants to help.
