Capital Football have launched the first dedicated football academy for people with a disability in the ACT.
Aligned with the state’s W-League team, The Canberra United All Abilities Academy is open to players who have cerebral palsy, a brain injury or symptoms as a result of a stroke.
The academy will provide participants with opportunities to represent Capital Football at national tournaments, including the FFA National Futsal Championships.
Academy coach Kelly Stirton said: “AWD or all ability athletes don’t get the same options as other athletes so it was Capital Football’s goal to provide them with an option and to make their sport equal with everybody else’s.
“We want to make sure that each and every one of these footballers are supported 110 percent, regardless of their ability on and off the pitch.
“We want to give them an option so they can chase their dreams, whether that be playing football for the very first time or representing the Pararoos at the IFCPF World Cup.”
Capital Football CEO Phil Brown stated: “Capital Football has a united goal to create opportunities that enable everyone to participate in our great game.
“The academy is open to all; from experienced players like Jason Driscoll, who was part of the inaugural Pararoos squad in 1999, to some of our youngest footballers like 10-year-old Jayden Wallace-Bourne.
“We also have Tilda Mason who moved over from Perth to pursue her footballing career with the academy.”
Mr Brown believes the creation of the academy builds on the governing body’s work to make football more inclusive in the state.
“Last year, Kelly was the first female head coach of a team at the National CP Football Championships, leading a Capital Football team which had three female footballers, the first three to ever play in the tournament,” he said.
“While COVID-19 delayed our launch, it has been great to see our footballers join the academy and we hope to see the numbers grow over the coming years.”
