Disability team receiving trophy

April Spotlight: #MCRForAll

We’re well underway with our monthly spotlights and we’re moving on to shine a light on disability football.

We’re well underway with our monthly spotlights and after a fantastic female football focus month in March (#MFAFFF), we’re moving on to shine a light on disability football.

Across April, we’ll be looking at how football in our county is delivered to ensure that regardless of ability, everyone can access the sport. This includes football that supports those with physical disabilities, sessions that help those with mental health or emotional issues, along with adapted football opportunities such as walking football.

Along with paying visits to local clubs who provide specialist support and sessions to a range of individual needs, we will also be speaking to the volunteers, coaches, referees and individuals who ensure that ‘football for all’ takes place every week, here in Manchester.

Steven Edwards, Disability Football Development Officer, explains: “The grassroots community in Manchester is a fantastic, diverse place with lots of opportunities for players to get involved in the game, regardless of ability. We want to spend this month showcasing as many of the individuals who ensure these sessions exist, so that more parents, carers and players can see the opportunities there are in and around Manchester.

We’ll also celebrate the provision that is tailored to support older players or those who benefit from a different pace of game, such as walking football, along with some of the exciting projects that use football as a vehicle to support those with mental health or emotional issues.”

Rounding off the month, Manchester FA will attend the People’s Cup finals at St George’s Park to support local team, FC United of Manchester an open age PAN Disability football team who play in the Greater Manchester Ability Counts League.

To keep up with the coverage and join the conversation, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #MCRForAll.