HEREFORDSHIRE will be leading the way when it comes to coaching disabled footballers.
As part of a national award for innovation in sport given by the Football Association to FC Phoenix for their work in coaching disabled footballers, the FA sent a camera crew to the county to film a day's coaching session.
The footage will be used to form the core of a new DVD to be produced by the FA.
"All the schools and organisations where we coach during the week, including Barrs Court, Blackmarston and Hampton Dene Schools and the Score Project for adults with disabilities, were represented," said Phoenix's Ralph Farmer.
"There were 70 or 80 people there and the crew were filming throughout the day.
"We showed how we teach the sport to people with extra needs, based around the three key words of structure, inclusion and enjoyment."
With Herefordshire FA football development officer Paul Carpenter, Phoenix's assistant co-ordinator for disabled football Jamie Griffiths, and representatives from MIND in attendance, all of the coaching was done by Phoenix, much of it by people with special needs.
The day was seen as a great success by Farmer who said: "All of the good things to do with disabled football shone through."
The Phoenix development centre for people with special needs who want to be involved in football is open on Saturdays. Contact Ralph Farmer on 01432 353900 for details.
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