Disability football gets £1m boost

More than £1m will be ploughed into Disability football following the launch of a new participation scheme devised by the English Football League (EFL).

Alongside the Wembley National Stadium Trust, the EFL Trust has created a £1.1m (US$1.4m, €1.3m) fund as part of their Every Player Counts Scheme.

It will expose disabled individuals to opportunities to get involved in a wide range of activities, such as wheelchair football, football for visual impairment, learning difficulties, amputees and autism.

The organisations are hoping to attract 10,000 new participants to the sport.

Twenty-five EFL clubs will be involved in running programmes up and down the country.

“I’ve heard first hand about the vital role sport has played in helping disabled people move into employment and the transformation this has made to their lives,” said minister for disabled people Penny Mordaunt.

“Every Player Counts is a great example for sports clubs, educators and businesses everywhere to enable disabled people to reach their full potential.”

Stewart Goshawk, Wembley National Stadium Trust chief executive, added: “We know the power that football has to inspire people to get active – getting fit and healthy in the process. However, we also understand that unfortunately disabled people continue to face barriers to participation.

“The work we are funding will make football more accessible for people with a physical or sensory impairment, or who have a learning disability or enduring mental ill health.”