Abbey Rangers became the latest club to develop a new disability football team through the FA School-Club link initiative. Linking with two special schools the club hosted an open day at their training facility in Addlestone, Surrey. 15 local children attended the session and were treated to a training session headed by Surrey County FA staff Oliver Selfe and three coaches from Abbey Rangers F.C.
Denise Roberts Disability Football Co-ordinator Abbey Rangers F.C commented. It has been a fantastic project for us to become involved in. As an FA Charter Standard Community Club we are delighted to now offer football for all members of the community. We look forward to developing the new team further and are already in the process of planning an U12’s disability team.
Oliver Selfe Senior Football Development Officer at the Surrey County FA added. Abbey Rangers have shown a clear commitment to developing disability provision within the club and I am very impressed with the efforts that the club have made to becoming disability inclusive. The club recently became deaf friendly through the NDCS (National Deaf Children Society). They have also put their coaching staff on the FA Coaching Disabled Footballers Course and key members of the club have attended the FA Equality Workshop. This is a fantastic achievement.
The new team now train weekly on a Saturday morning and play their matches in the Surrey County Disability League which take place on the last Sunday of every month at the new Excel Leisure Centre in Walton on Thames Surrey. To join Abbey Rangers F.C please contact Graham Keable on 07711 042588 or by email to graham.keable@ntlworld.com