Special Olympics GB and The Football Association sign agreement to provide additional opportunities for footballers with learning disabilities.
On Friday 9th December Special Olympics GB (SOGB) and The Football Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement is to show that both organisations are supporting the direction in which learning disability football is moving in England.
SOGB wants to provide additional opportunities to players with learning disabilities at all ability levels, by creating a network of regular regional competition, which feeds directly in to SOGB’s player pathway from regional to national and even international levels.
Karen Wallin, SOGB CEO states, “The FA’s membership will create fantastic additional competition opportunities for people with learning disabilities. Over the next three years we hope to double the number of footballers within our programme, and create an all-ability pathway from local levels upwards. Linking Special Olympics GB with County FA’s will ensure that players with learning disabilities and their supporting volunteers or coaches are given a quality experience in football.”
Present at the signing was Athlete Paul Fallon, SOGB President Lawrie McMenemy MBE, The FA National Development Manager Jeff Davis and SOGB CEO Karen Wallin.
There are 1000’s of footballers with learning disabilities in England already playing football, usually through The FA’s ‘pan-disability’ competitions. Special Olympics GB wants to provide additional opportunities to these players, by inviting them to regional competitions. All of these regional events will be run with the support of The FA and will be sanctioned by both The FA and Special Olympics GB.
For more information on how to get a team involved in Special Olympics GB football, please contact jason.cornwell@sogb.org.uk.