Archive for month: February, 2017

Luton Town FC Community Trust’s Every Player Counts programme has played a significant part in helping disabled people build their capacity and confidence. One participant in particular, John, is a great example of how sport can make a difference even in a short space of time.

John, who is in his late thirties and was born and raised in Luton, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy from an early age which has affected his movement, co-ordination and speech.

After regularly attending Luton Town FC Community Trust’s Every Player Counts football sessions, he has grown in confidence and become an inspiration to everybody else on the team.

At first, John would be very nervous often sitting out and watching from the side-lines during sessions. He would also struggle with his speech, solely relying on his care worker to speak for him.

With the help from staff and players on the team, John now engages fully in sessions and participates in matches and external competitions. He has continued to improve his speech has become a real character within the group with a constant smile on his face.

Ian, Johns support worker said: ”John has grown in confidence as a person and I believe that the football sessions have given him a focus and something that he can look forward to every week. He is a changed person and his enthusiasm is infectious. He is really having a big impact on the group.”

”I have really enjoyed to see John progress in the sessions not only has his football improved but his speech and confidence has grown. I like working with John and he is a great help to sessions and a role model for the whole group.” Commented Disability Officer Luke Hyde.

When John first started the programme, he used to like to referee matches and would give instructions to them team and tell them where to go. This prompted Disability Officer Luke Hyde, who spoke with John’s support worker about getting him to help out on coaching the teams.

John was reluctant to coaching at first as he thought his speech would hold him back but after helping in the sessions, his speech has considerably progressed and he is now looking to begin a Level 1 disability coaching course in Spring.

”I love coming to football every week and helping out when I can. I have made some friends from the sessions and I am now helping my friends by helping the coaches take the team and laying cones out. I have improved my speech and I can’t wait to go on a coaching course.” Said John.

John delivering a coaching session

To find out more about Every Player Counts visit – https://www.efltrust.com/projects/every-player-counts/

To find out more about Luton Town FC Community Trust visit – http://www.lutontown.co.uk/club/community/

Walking football, a slow-paced version of the beautiful game which is specifically targeted at the over 50’s, will feature on ITV’s tonight show this week.

The founders of the game, Chesterfield FC Community Trust and their Ex-Spires walking football team will be shown this Thursday in The Truth About Exercise: Tonight.

ITV presenter Fiona Foster attended an Ex-Spires session at the Akademy in Dronfield and spoke to some of the players. Among them was 78-year-old Eric Bagshaw, who took up walking football six years ago after being diagnosed with diabetes.

Eric talked on camera about the marked improvement in his health since he has been playing walking football.

”I could feel myself getting stronger each week, and I just kept working at it, just loved it.” He said.

Taking up the story of when he faced a medical examination, Eric adds: ”The doctor came down and he said, ‘Now then Eric, what have you been doing for the last six months’?

”So I said, ‘I’ve joined an exercise club, football’. He says, ‘Brilliant, because what that’s done for you is fantastic. Your diabetes has gone, your blood pressure’s normal, your kidneys, liver and your heart is perfect. You’ve got the body of a 40-year-old man’. Those were his exact words.”

Chesterfield Community Trust’s chief John Croot developed the idea of walking football after the Trust received funding from the Football Foundation for a project called ‘Extra Time’.

He explained: ”It was around 2010/2011 when I went to a presentation before we put the bid in and one of the things said was to look for unusual activities which would be ideal for older people.

”The requirement was for something which would have low injury risk, cardio vascular benefits and help develop friendship groups.

”Coming back I was going through what had been talked about and I thought, ‘Why don’t we play football, but walk it’?

”I’m proud that walking football started here in Chesterfield and it’s great to see that it’s really taken off. As a measure of the interest in it world-wide, I’ve been interviewed about walking football by TV crews from Japan, Holland, Germany and France.”

The Truth About Exercise: Tonight is on this Thursday, February 9, from 7.30pm to 8pm on ITV.

To find out more about walking football visit – https://www.efltrust.com/walkingfootball/

Walking football is also a part of our #2ndHalf campaign. To find out more visit  – https://www.efltrust.com/walkingfootball/2ndhalf/

The Every Player Counts programme formed in September 2016, has significantly changed the lives of people by providing those with a disability a pathway into sport.

Twenty five clubs run the Every Player Counts programme and Wigan Athletic Community Trust are one of those clubs that tailor the programme to the specific needs of their local community.

Wigan Athletic Community Trust have been able to deliver football sessions in the evening at Wigan Youth Zone, specifically targeted at young people with a learning disability.

Rick Read, a participant of the project who is on the Autistic Spectrum, first came into contact with the club at an after school club in West Lancashire. For him to integrate into society, it is a slow and planned process due to his vulnerability.

Ricky has been a regular attendee of the Every Player Counts sessions, playing football weekly and learning new skills in a club where he feels confident and safe.

Before Ricky was introduced to the sessions he informed the trust that all he would do is sit at home watch football or play football video games. He said: ”I didn’t want to go and play for a team because I was scared of being laughed at and being on the subs bench every week.”

Ever since the first week that Ricky attended the session, his confidence has grown massively. For the first few weeks he would only take part for 5 minutes at the end and it would be a challenge for him to walk on the pitch and participate. He would only access the session with the support of his Mum.

After he had made friends and got used to working with the coaches, he started enjoying his football in a relaxed environment and now arrives to sessions early and participates independently without support.

Ricky’s Mum explained: ”The Every Player Counts project has helped Ricky to engage on a weekly basis in a sport he enjoys, building his confidence and self-esteem and reducing his anxiety levels. This involvement will ultimately lead to Ricky being able to participate within the Youth Zone as his confidence grows.”

Ricky’s targets now are to take part in wider Youth Zone sessions such as basketball, badminton and play in some competitive football matches against other Youth Zone teams.

To find out more about Wigan Athletic Community Trust visit – http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/community/

The landmark Every Player Counts project was made possible thanks to a 1.1m donation from the Wembley National Stadium Trust (WNST).

To find out more about Every Player counts visit – https://www.efltrust.com/projects/every-player-counts