Dave is Director of the Leicestershire & Rutland (Disability) Centre of Excellence and with his team of coaches, Paul Gibson, Wayne Gudegeon, Graham Prosser and Nathan Williams ensures the ongoing development of players with a learning, physical or sensory disability who attend training, every Wednesday evening at Lancaster School in Leicester.
The Centre plays in the East and West Midlands (Disability) Centre of Excellence League and indeed the fantastic articficial pitch at Judgemeadow Community College was the venue for the Centre of Excellence League Fixtures on Sunday 7th February. Teams in attendance represented Norfolk, Staffordshire, Birmingham and Northampton in both U14’s and U17’s Divisions. Both squads of players representing Leicestershire and Rutland performed very well during the competition which has an ethos of development, fairplay and Respect. The U17’s squad were undefeated on the day and showed excellent team work and skills, the U14’s won one game and lost three, but with a young squad, they had shown great development since the last fixture programme in November.
The Leicestershire and Rutland Centre develops the players’ football, physical and social skills. Players with great potential are signposted to specific England Disability Teams. Indeed 5 players from the Centre will be attending the FA England U18’s Learning Disability Trials, which are being held at Holmes Park on Saturday 20th February from 11.00am until 2.00pm and another player will be attending a talent identification day at Lileshall Sports Centre for players with visual impairments.
Player identification is ongoing and players may attend a trial at any time. If a player does not meet the criteria or standard required at the Centre, they are invited to attend our Development Centre or join one of our network of Inclusive Clubs, ensuring all players are involved within our Inclusive (Disability) Football provision.
We are currently looking to target players with cerebral palsy, hearing and visual impairments as well as those with a learning disability. For further details on the Centre of Excellence or Inclusive (Disability) Football, please contact Mary Rudkin at the Leicestershire & Rutland County Football Association
Telephone: 0116 2844952 / 07752 746229
mary.rudkin@leicestershirefa.com
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U17’s Squad Back row – Left to right - Ryan Smith, Ben Clarks-Monk,Jamie Milner, Matthew Bryans, Ashley Spencer, Jack Martin, Oliver Josephs, Joseph Baker, Lewis Goulty, Wayne Gudgeon (Coach) Zak Storer (GK), Reece Baker, Paul Gibson (Coach)
U14’s Squad with Norfolk Centre of Excellence
Back row – Left to right – Joseph Grant, Kane Breward-McReynolds, Elliott Mullaney, Jordan Elliot (GK) Declan Lord, Josh Walker, Jordan Gray, Macorley Lowe, Ryan Gray