‘This is a big step in making sure football truly is for all’

Following on from the launch of our new Disability Training for Clubs: Journey to Inclusion offer, St. George’s Park played host to over 100 grassroots volunteers, County FA staff and Disability Football Ambassadors on Sunday 10 December to showcase the new training workshops.

The training has been created to encourage more grassroots clubs to open their doors to disabled people, providing them with the opportunity to play and get involved with football in their local community.  

Attendees at the Journey to Inclusion Super Event took part in a range of additional workshops during the day, all of which aim to address various key on and off-pitch barriers that grassroots clubs may perceive they face when trying to become more inclusive of disabled people.

Baroness Sue Campbell, The FA’s director of women’s football and the organisation’s strategic lead for disability football, said: “We’re here to encourage clubs to make football available to everyone, including those with a disability. This event is terrific and a big step in our strategy to make sure that football truly is for all.”

Phil Heap, The FA’s national development manager (Disability Pathway), said: “It’s been a really inspiring day and hopefully the work that we’ve showcased, that’s already taking place, will have inspired others here today to take action and kickstart their journey to inclusion.”

Zara Musker, England Deaf Women’s team, said: “This event is really important to ensure coaches and clubs are inclusive. There’s lots of disabled people out there who love and want to play football and there’s lots of little changes coaches can make to adapt sessions and ensure everyone is included.

“All of those small changes will have a big impact on how welcome disabled people feel coming to a club and could really make a difference to how much they love football.”

Adam Robinson, coach at Bure Park, said: “It’s great to see that there’s a support network and structure in place for clubs. The launch of Disability Training For Clubs means you’re no longer reliant on an individual person to take the first step, but rather clubs can come here and start their journey to inclusive football together.

“My advice to any club that’s looking to become more inclusive is to just do it. There’s never a perfect time to start, so you just need to take the first step and get started.”

David Harland, of Boro Rangers, said: “I just think disability sport and disability football is massive. It’s so important that we keep pushing and giving it more exposure. It’s been amazing today to speak to like-minded people that want to do the same thing and drive disability football forward. It encourages you and gives you an extra bit of support!”

To find out more about England Football Disability Training and Toolkit For Clubs, visit: https://www.englandfootball.com/play/Disability-Football/Training