Following on from the success of previous season’s the Leicestershire & Rutland County FA has again been granted a license by the Football Association to deliver a Centre of Excellence at both U14’s and U18’s age groups, for talented footballers who have a disability / impairment.
David Eassom, Leicester City Football in the Community Coach, has been appointed Director of the Centre and will ensure player development is paramount. Regular coaching sessions will be held throughout the season and the squads representing Leicestershire & Rutland will participate in the East & West Midlands Centre of Excellence League.
The task of identifying players to attend trials is ongoing for the Centre Director. So, if you know of any budding male footballer between 10 – 17 years of age, who falls into the group of footballers who have Cerebral Palsy, a Visual or Hearing Impairment, Blind Players, Amputee Players, Players with Learning Difficulties, then, we are very keen to invite those players along to our open trial evenings, which will be held during September at the new full size artificial pitch based at the New College, Glenfield Road, Leicester LE3 6RN. For further information on the trials, please see attached related document, although potential new players, who meet the strict criteria of the Football Association are able to attend any Tuesday evening for a trial, to see what is expected and how we can help youngsters with a disability train in football and play on a regular basis, whether it be with the Centre of Excellence, Development Centre or one of our Local inclusive Football Clubs.
The Football Association funds the Disability Centre of Excellence, with the aim of working to identify potential players who may one day develop into talented players and play for the FA England Impairment Specific Squads. For example, in the London 2012 Paralympics, we will have a team of CP (Cerebral Palsy) Players and Blind Players. But all the specific impairment England Teams play regular international competition. Indeed, 2 of our players with a learning disability have very proudly played for England U19’s this season, which is an absolutely fantastic achievement.
The Football Association run Disability teams for the following impairments:
Male Senior Teams
U19’s Learning Disability
Cerebral Palsy
Amputee
Deaf
Blind
Visually Impaired
Female Teams
Deaf
For information about the England Disability Teams log onto http://thefa.com/England/england-disability-teams
If you would like further information regarding the Inclusive (Disability) Centre of Excellence, please contact:
Mary Rudkin at the Leicestershire & Rutland County FA
Telephone: 0116 2844952
Email - mary.rudkin@leicestershirefa.com.
Or
David Eassom, Centre Director at Leicester City Football in the Community
Telephone: 07986837427
Email: david.eassom@lcfc.co.uk