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National Football Museum 'Football for All' Disability Tournament goes from strength to strength
The National Football Museum together with Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers football clubs and UCLan sponsored the fourth annual ‘Football For All’ Tournament this year. It is now the biggest young people's disability football tournament in the country.
The Museum sponsored trophies and medals for over 600 players from over 30 colleges nationwide. This year’s northern event at Preston Sports Arena was a glorious success. On Tuesday 16th June 2009 in hot sunshine disabled students from colleges in Eccles, Manchester, Bolton, Leeds, Brooklands, Sandwell and Wolves played over 41 games leading to Wolves Skills For Life team winning the ‘Premier League’ and Mancat winning the ‘Championship League’.
Kevin Moore, Director of the National Football Museum presented the winners with trophies and all competitors with medals at the Museum later on the day, where contestants also enjoyed a refreshments and Museum attractions (see photos).
David Pearson, General Manager of the Museum, when watching the fiercely competitive and skilful games at the Arena said, ‘It is great for us to support this event and others like it taking place throughout England. You can see how much enjoyment and esteem this tournament gives to the players.’
As well the event at Preston this year there has been a Ladies’ Festival at Greenwich where former player, Paul Elliott, gave his support (see photo). There was also a Mens’ tournament at the Linford Christie Stadium, London and a Mens’ club competition at Aston Villa training ground where the disability team from a number of Premiership Clubs were represented.
Later this year there will be special tournaments for wheelchair and amputee footballers and blind and deaf players.
Ashley Jordan Diaper, Head of Supported Learning at Brooklands College, Weybridge and a former UCLan student, said ‘It is great to see the tournament grow each year and involve so many footballers with all sorts of disability-it means so much to them.’
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Photographs (clockwise from top left)
1. Bolton College Disability Team at Preston Sports Arena
2.
Brooklands College winning team with Paul Elliot at the Ladies Disability Tournament at Chelsea Training Ground
3. Winning Wolves Skills For Life Team receive their trophy from Kevin Moore, Museum Director
4. Bolton College Disability Team Cheer Leaders!!