Disability football teams from the Every Player Counts football initiative have been praised for their outstanding performance at two important football festivals.
Earlier this month Cardiff City Football Club’s (CCFC) Down’s Syndrome team, the DSActives, travelled to Fulham Football Club’s training ground to compete in the Premier Leagues first ever Down’s Syndrome Football Festival.
The festival marked National Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week and World Down’s Syndrome Day.
Cardiff DSActives beat Harvesters DSActive, ITFC Trust DS Team and Hull City Trust DS Team to take first place position in League Two.
Last week (Sunday March, 27) Cardiff City Deaf FC’s youth teams made the journey to the Derby Soccer Dome to compete in the UK’s biggest tournament for deaf friendly football teams.
The event was organised by the National Deaf Children’s Society and was attended by deaf teams from Premiership Clubs including Arsenal, Sunderland, Manchester City and Everton.
Cardiff City Deaf FC Under 16s defeated all 10 other teams to take first the first place trophy.
The Under 12’s team were also outstanding, finishing runners up to Everton.
Cardiff DSActives and Cardiff City Deaf FC are part of the Every Player Counts disability football scheme, a partnership between Sport.Cardiff and Cardiff City Football Club (CCFC).
The initiative aims to grow disability football provision across the region and is a leading project of The Football League Trust and supported by The Football Pools.
It will see Cardiff City FC Community Foundation in partnership with Sport Cardiff, Cardiff Council’s Sports Development Department, deliver a two-year, PAN-Disability scheme.
Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Judith Woodman said: “It is hugely important that disabled players are given access to quality football provision.
“These competitions have displayed that the Every Player Counts project has provided players with the opportunities so that they may develop their confidence, social skills and excel in the game of football.
“Both teams have done exceptionally well and should be very proud of their achievements. They have demonstrated that the scheme is successful and will continue to engage more disabled players from across Cardiff and South Wales.”
