New Football Initiative Praised

A new scheme has been launched which aims to bring footballers of varying abilities together in one team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many players with a disability have been put off mainstream football in the past, which has seen players with a disability ridiculed or bullied. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cleddau Warriors and Clarbeston Road football clubs are the first local clubs to take part in the initiative, which sees disabled footballers playing alongside their non-disabled counterparts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The team play under the name of Clarbe Warriors and the playing format is the traditional 11 a-side version of the game. There are criteria in place to ensure that six players per team on the field of play must have a disability. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Already, they have had success, reaching the final of a regional competition played over the course of two weekends. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Their first match was against Penclawdd Bravehearts of Swansea, which they lost 4-2, followed by a win (6-4) against Aberstars of Aberystwyth. Their third match was a draw against the Harp Herons of Bridgend FC (3-3), a fantastic result with qualified them for the final against Penclawdd which they lost 7-3. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The aim of the new initiative is to provide playing opportunities for those players whose ability and/or social level sit between the PAN Disability League and mainstream football structures. PAN Disability League creates a playing environment suitable for most players with a disability but not all. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Angela Miles, disability sport officer for Pembrokeshire County Council, said the scheme would enhance the programme of activity for footballers with a disability and offer more playing opportunities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said: “Clarbeston Road AFC has always provided coaches for Cleddau Warriors AFC and it is fantastic to see the two clubs coming together to form one team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It would be great if some of the Cleddau Warriors players represent Clarbeston Road in the Pembrokeshire League in the near future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Elwyn Morse, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, added: “It’s great to hear this initiative is proving to be a success and hopefully it will pave the way to more integrated football teams in the County in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you’re interested in being involved in this initiative, please contact disability sport officer Angela Miles on 07920 213651 or email angela.miles@pembrokeshire.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​