Come to one of our clubs Lets see what football can do

Albion in the Community run over 20 clubs and centres for disabled people in Sussex. These clubs offer players of all ages and abilities the chance to play football at safe secure venues with experienced coaches and other disabled people.

Albion in the Community are recognised for the continued commitment to developing club opportunities for the youngest and most disabled children and young people as well as gifted and talented players.

Albion in the Community have clubs for Impairment Specific groups as well as Pan-disability clubs that are open to everyone. Bring a friend or sibling and they can play too.

All our club players are invited to take part in competitIon. Our clubs compete in many local, regional, national and european events. We take part in events for beginners to experienced players of all ages. Come to a club and find out what you can take part in. However you can just train if you prefer. It's up to you!

Have a look at each club to see what one is most suitable for you. You can down load all the information you need and just turn up or contact us with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you.

Teresa Sanders
Football Development Manager
07919 051848
or send me an enquiry form via email.

Let's see what football can do...

Albion in the Community gives children and adults of all ages and abilities opportunities to play football. But our clubs offer a lot more than that. The benefits a disabled players can gain and learn through their involvement in our clubs is often more valuable than the game of football itself.

1. Developing basic skills

The chance to learn to play football is so motivating to many children that it can be used as a vehicle to encourage and develop basic skills. Many children are still learning to play successfully and need lots of chances to practise sharing, taking turns, following rules and accepting that they cannot always be the winner. Waiting, good listening and following an adult's direction rather than their own agendas are really important skills to master. An inability to demonstrate these skills can increase the likelihood of exclusion from activities when they are away from our project, at school or in their community. Because getting the hang of them opens doors to other previously inaccessible clubs, pastimes and sports, sessions for younger players focus on getting these right.

2. Gaining better co-ordination

Many children and young people with special needs have difficulty mastering basic skills such as hopping, balancing, catching, running and kicking. Football training offers a natural scope for practising these skills. The sessions also give children who have poor spatial awareness the chance to develop a better sense of themselves 'in time and space', their position in relation to other people and objects, and better eye-ball co-ordination.

3. Helping communication

Many of our participants have some difficulty understanding what others say or making themselves understood. Coaches adapt their teaching and language to support players' listening and attention skills. Demonstration, practice and repetition help young players develop a better understanding of spatial concepts like 'in front', 'beside' and 'between'. Later, the same approaches help older players secure their understanding of sequences of events and more complex instructions. Often children with language difficulties choose hobbies that are solitary and do not demand a lot of language. Football generates chat. It is our national sport, we have all got something to say and, especially for young people who can find it hard to think what to say in social situations, it is a great topic of conversation. It is easier to show an interest in other people's views, to say what you think. Even players whose speech is unclear, or who have problems organising their thoughts, are motivated to talk about football. The more they talk and have success at being understood and holding another person's interest, the more confident they become at speaking to others who they do not know so well.

4. Building friendships

It is rare for disabled children to have a wide circle of friends. Many can name only one or two. Most have some difficulty getting along with people they do not know well and find it hard to make new friends in an unstructured, unsupported setting. It is easier to make lasting friendships with children and young people who play the same sport, for the same team. Some players introduce friends from their special school to their club.

5. Becoming part of a team

It is about learning to take both individual and collective responsibility for what happens. Players learn to see the bigger picture, and that working as a team will mean making chances for other players rather than taking them for themselves. It is all good practice for young people who may have little experience of thinking strategically. Playing football teaches children to play by the rules and to accept a decision they may disagree with. Life is often unfair. We all have to deal with strong feelings when something does not go as we hoped. A lot of disabled children need plenty of 'safe-chances' to practise acceptable ways of managing disappointment.

6. Improving health and fitness

Disabled children face particular barriers to taking part in competitive sports, so unless we create safe, structured opportunities to train and play, their fitness and stamina is likely to be poorer than many of their non-disabled peers. Special schools struggle to recruit specialist sports teachers and this project offers a solution by providing good coaching in schools and a "school-to-club" link. For many of our children, an informal 'kick-about' in the park with mates is not an option for their parents, who may worry about their vulnerability and safety. Anyway, who would they play with? Friends at special schools are unlikely to live nearby, and mainstream peers rarely invite slower, weaker players to join their team. Even very able players who 'try out' for mainstream teams are more likely to find themselves 'left on the bench' as difficulties in making themselves understood are assumed to reflect their skill at the game.

7. Mentoring opportunities

The Make a Difference project has had great success in attracting talented new coaches and volunteers with a lot of enthusiasm for working with disabled footballers. Our mentoring programme helps young people experience working with disabled people and offers education and development opportunities. Best of all, some of the our older disabled players who have come up through the junior sides are being mentored as assistant coaches. These young men and women enable us to offer one on-one support to our most disabled players and they act as a positive role model for others. The experience of managing and overcoming their own difficulties and seeing the difference they can make to the lives of younger players has inspired some to seek a career in sport and leisure. Through our coach and volunteer development and work placements and mentoring programmes we are able to support disabled young people to achieve their personal long-term 'life goals'.