Youngsters show their skills at FA Disability Talent Day

Palace for Life Foundation hosted an FA England Disability Talent Day on Saturday 2 June at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre to enable budding footballers with a disability to showcase their skills. There was also the opportunity for talented players to be signposted to England Talent Pathways.

Over fifteen young people with a disability arrived at the National Sports Centre, and were given a presentation on the FA Disability Talent Programme by England Men’s Deaf Futsal National Team Head Coach Mike Nolan. The players were raring to go after the presentation and took to the Indoor 3G Dome at the National Sports Centre for a two-hour football session.

The football session for players with cerebral palsy, a hearing impairment and a visual impairment was delivered by Foundation coaches Ben Williams and John Harney, and the blind football session was led by the Foundation’s Disability Officer Keon Richardson, with support from Royal Society for the Blind (RBSC) volunteers. Both sessions focused on ball control, passing, shooting, and ended with small-sided games.

Disability Officer Keon Richardson said: “It was great to see so many young people come from far and wide for the Talent Day. Both the ability and attitude of all the players was outstanding and we hope to support each player with suitable football playing opportunities for their personal journey.”

For more information on Palace for Life’s disability programmes, please contact Foundation Disability Officer Keon Richardson on 07522225373, or by email: KeonRichardson@palaceforlife.org