Senior Football Development Officer (Inclusion), John Manning, is confident there will be “more opportunities for people in Essex with a disability to play than ever before” as he focuses on the new season and encourages new internationals to test their mettle in the Essex Soccability League, which kicks-off in October.
Plans for the next campaign have been ongoing throughout the summer at the County Office in Chelmsford and Manning can’t wait to build on the foundations already laid. PowerChair football, a new Development Centre and an Equality Advisory Group are just three projects being developed with the guidance of the Essex County Football Association and John feels last season’s success was merely the beginning.
“Whatever anyone’s ability, whatever their impairment, wherever they live, the Soccability League is the base which all other developments are built upon,” he explained of the competition, which is about to enter its second season. “It acts as the main focal point for players in Essex, whether they play football at school, in a club or just having a kickabout with mates. The League provides the platform for all these groups to play together.”
Manning has become aware of potential new clubs in Epping Forest, Thurrock and Chelmsford who could participate in the League’s monthly ‘round-robin’ fixtures. The debut season reached an overall climax in April, with the Rochford Disability Football Academy taking a clean sweep of the Premiership, Championship and Youth silverware. However, the general standard of football throughout increased markedly.
Another target for the League is to generate talented young players to follow Rochford’s Adam Lione through the structured player pathway. Adam recently linked-up with the England Visually Impaired Under 18s Squad after gaining experience in the Soccability League and Manning hopes the proposed new Development Centre, in conjunction with Southend United FC, will bridge the gap between county and national participation.
John added: “At the Essex County FA, we’re committed to providing football for all and we’re continually working to establish a pathway in Essex that will help individuals and clubs achieve their potential. The pathway shows how the structures in place for the coming season can help a player reach whatever level their talent can take them, be that the League, the new Development Centre or even national team representation.”
The Soccability League operates on a ‘roadshow’ basis to maximise participation and the full list of dates and proposed venues for the new season, all on Saturdays from 10:30am to 3:30pm, include: 30th October (Southend), 27th November (Colchester), 29th January (Maldon), 26th February (Southend), 26th March (Basildon), 30th April (Colchester).
If you’d like to know more about disability football or details of how to enter a team into the Soccability League, contact John Manning on (01245) 393095 or E-Mail john.manning@essexfa.com. Further information and a chart showing the Disability Player Pathway can be found at and www.disabilityfootballessex.btik.com.