A football league comprising teams of people with learning disabilities has received a £5,000 funding boost to help develop female players and train six coaches.
The Grow the Game grant from the Football Foundation will be used by the Cheshire Disability Social League, which is just completing its first season. It currently contains 12 teams of players with learning disabilities, who receive day services from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC).
Drawn from Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Winsford, Frodsham and rural areas, the seven-a-side teams – 10 male and two female – play monthly on the all-weather pitches at Goals in Bumpers Lane, Chester.
The league is a partnership between Cheshire FA and Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Chairwoman of the league, Denise Garner, a business development manager with CWaC, said the grant will enable the council to increase the participation of disabled players in football.
“We have 10 people who have completed the FA’s level one coaching and two who have gained disability coaching. We are hoping some of the service users will be able to do the level one coaching course.”
Coaching sessions are adapted around the needs and levels of support the players, who are aged between 19 and 65, require.
Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Congratulations to Cheshire Day Service FC for working with the Cheshire Football Association to secure their £5,000 Grow the Game grant which will increase participation in the region as well as support football development in the area.”
