FA outlines future of disability football The Football Association has outlined its plans for the future of disability football in the UK.

The organisation has pledged £900,000 towards grassroots participation and national disability squads – of which there are currently six: amputees, blind, Cerebral Palsy, deaf, learning disability and partially sighted.

Over the next two years the FA plans to improve the quality of training, coaching and support for disabled people and achieve a five per cent increase in participation through the creation of 50 clubs with regular playing and competition opportunities.

The FA also plans to create performance pathways to help players progress to play for county and national squads and intends to go to UEFA and FIFA to help other associations develop better disability programmes.

The FA’s director of football development, Trevor Brooking, said: “I’m delighted that disabled children and adults will now have far greater opportunities to be involved in that national game.

“I’m determined to fight disability sports’ corner, as I’m a strong believer that football can be used as a powerful tool for social change.”

Following its initial involvement in 1999, in 2001, the FA launched a £6m, three-year programme to provide free coaching and equipment for teachers at special schools and began identifying disabled players with the potential to progress to national squads.