This season, Brighton & Hove Albion’s official charity Albion in the Community (AITC) is looking to encourage more people with a disability to get involved in the sessions they deliver and have the chance to represent the Seagulls in regional and national disability leagues.
The Paralympic Games has showcased 22 different sports within which athletes compete for a gold medal. In Sussex, AITC is playing its part, having been giving people with a disability the opportunity to play football for more than 24 years.
AITC’s disability manager Paul Brackley explained: “We offer a range of disability specific sessions each week that include wheelchair, autism, Down’s syndrome, partially-sighted and learning disability, but also pan-disability sessions.”
The charity is the largest provider of football opportunities for people with a disability in Sussex, giving people of all ages and abilities the chance to take part in fun and competitive sport.
Paul continued: “We’ve got sessions for anyone with a disability all across Sussex in accessible venues for people who want to learn new skills and meet new friends. All our sessions are good fun, and we’d love to see more players getting involved.”
Additionally, AITC runs a player development pathway for adults and junior players to develop and improve talent including four disability-specific teams that compete at a regional and national level under the banner of Brighton & Hove Albion. These include Brighton & Hove Albion Cerebral Palsy FC, Brighton & Hove Albion Amputee FC, Brighton & Hove Albion Deaf FC and Brighton & Hove Albion Powerchair FC.
With the new season on the horizon, AITC are looking to recruit new players into these teams.
Brackley continued: “We’re proud to be able to play our part in making our communities more inclusive and are looking for more players to join our regional and national teams and get the special opportunity to represent the Club.”
To find out more about the disability football programme and how to get involved in the disability specific teams please email: disability@albioninthecommunity.org.uk or visit albioninthecommunity.org.uk/disability.