Lincolnshire first wheelchair football club has been set up in partnership between Lincolnshire Football Association and St Francis Special School. This has been a joint partnership and has been driven by the enthusiasm and determination of a few members of each organisation. Alex Squire a student at St Francis has been an influential part of this process, he has helped write funding bids and support his teachers in driving the club forward. He has also been very fortunate to have been supported by an equally enthusiastic teacher Lesley Headley. Together this could not have been possible without them.
Nevertheless, Ray Hewson (vice- chairman) has supported the application and has been a constant driving force from the Lincolnshire FA board. I would like to express gratitude to Ray Hewson and Lincolnshire FA on the donation of £3000 towards the equipment you see the players use, this has been vital for the sustainability of this club.
The wheelchair football club is hosted by St Francis Special School. St. Francis is a day school with residential facilities for young people with physical and/or medical disabilities. It is a centre of educational excellence and opportunity, offering a full curriculum from Nursery to Primary, through to Secondary and beyond, to the age of nineteen. Students attend with a Statement of Special Educational Needs from all over Lincolnshire and from neighbouring counties. There help has been vital for this club to be launched.
The team are a new set of budding wheelchair footballers and have even taught the game to Lincoln City FC very own Lee Freklington. This year they hope to enter the Greater Midlands Powerchair Football League with the grant aid from the Lincoln Youth Service, Youth Opportunity Fund.
For more information on Wheelchair Football please contact Sarah Teal, Football Development Officer (Equity) on 01522 524 995 or Sarah.teal@lincolnshirefa.com