Kickers Kids Disability Football Team

Leanne’s Story:
Having 2 children with autism and struggling to find a football team that they felt comfortable in we decided to see what interest there was in a disability team. We wanted a team for any age and any disability where children can get together weekly and take part in a sport they love, but also parents could come together!! My husband Colin who is already a football coach with Purnell’s  under 7 and under 9 and went on to get his FA disability coaching badge! After a lot of planning, finding a suitable venue, advertising and support through Somerset FA and Purnell's we held our first group on April 13th 2019 where we had 15 children turn up to play. To watch these children play, laugh and have fun on that first session was an experience that will stay with me forever.
6 months later Kickers has blossomed into a Actual football team,  where we have been playing matches. We currently have 23 registered children that come weekly. Every child pays a weekly sub, and a lot of the children have siblings who are also registered with us. Its extremely important to us to keep subs low as we dont want this to discourage children from being able to take part. At present subs are going towards weekly venue hire, balls and replacements balls, specialist balls with bells and coloured balls for partially sighted, futsals, indoor rubber markers and poles with bases. We also supply first aid kits with specialist supplies which need to be regularly replaced and topped up and with all this in mind in our last 6 month's of running there is a cost of well over £1000. As the children get older and we take in more we will need to replace kits, equipment and even looking into starting double sessions a week so everyone can join in safely.
We are often told by parents at Kickers that the team has been a lifeline, not only for the children who struggle with clubs and friendships but also the parents who get to socialise. Great friendships have been formed within Kickers.
Going forward, I myself have been so inspiredby this team I have decided to go for my F.A level one coaching badge. This means we can concentrate on 2 teams, bringing in more children but then this obviously requires more equipment.
We are the only PAN team in the local area (Midsomer Norton) and we have children coming in weekly from Frome, Bath and Shepton Mallet