Llanyrafon FC’s disability football team has only been running in the town for a couple of months but has 25 players, and exciting plans to grow to three teams.
They are appealing for support from local businesses to sponsor their kit. It looks like a cracking team for a business (or businesses) to be associated with. Here is their story🙂
Club coach Marcus Hall invited me along to meet the squad and watch them train at Fairwater Leisure Centre. The ages range from 12 to early 40s and is mixed with male and female players.
It was a fun-filled session and looked like any other football training night- a hall packed full of people passing balls, laughing, running around chatting to each other with the two coaches shouting and organising each part of it
Marcus said that mainstream football teams can be “judgemental” with players who have extra needs.
He told me: “With us there is no judgment. Everyone is welcome. Everyone gets game time. Everyone gets to enjoy it. That’s what the Llany disability teams are all about. it’s about everyone enjoying it and being part of it. This is the team to be in.
“They have some good banter amongst each other. They’ve all got their own individual characters. It’s good to see in training and on the pitch.
“It [playing football] helps with all of it especially the mental health side of it. People with mental health need to be doing things, keeping their mind stimulated.”
Marcus is also a coach with Llanyrafon FC’s under nines team. He said the new disability teams are part of the “Llany family”, and all under the “one club” banner.
Many of the players started training with a team in Tranch. During the summer, the team moved to come under Llanyrafon FC.
They train every Tuesday from 6pm to 7pm. During the winter, this is indoors at Fairwater Leisure Centre. Disability teams across south east Wales take turns in hosting tournaments.
Marcus said they have three players aged 12 and would love to get more players to be able to have an under 16 side so they can play before moving into senior football.
If you want to sponsor the team or find out about joining as a player, please contact Marcus via Facebook.