The Sky Blues in the Community Adult Ability Counts Team represented Coventry City at the Every Player Counts First Year Anniversary Festival – and won!
On Thursday 30th November 2017, Sky Blues in the Community’s Adult Ability Counts team travelled to Media City UK in Manchester to participate in the EFL Trust’s Every Player Counts one-year anniversary, successfully winning the festival with four wins.
Funded by the Wembley National Stadium Trust and EFL Trust, the Every Player Counts project has received in total £1.1 million, with 25 EFL Clubs currently successfully delivering the project across the country, including Sky Blues in the Community (the official charity arm of Coventry City Football Club).
In attendance on the day was former England defender Danny Mills, ex – Hull City manager Mike Phelan and Bolton Wanderers forward Aaron Wilbraham, all supporting the anniversary event and seeing first-hand the benefits the project has on young people and adults with disabilities.
In total five EFL Community Trusts (Wigan Athletic, Fleetwood Town, Bolton Wanderers, Coventry City and Shrewsbury Town) took part in a small tournament where the diversity of the programme was on show.
EFL Trust Director of Operations, Mike Evans, said “It’s a year since we launched the programme and it wouldn’t have been possible without the funding from Wembley National Stadium Trust. Credit needs to be given to all EFL Clubs who have really pushed the boat out to engage as many people with disabilities as possible. It has been a fantastic effort from all involved.”
Sky Blues in the Community’s Inclusion Coordinator, Sam Flatley, said “It was a fantastic event for our team to participate in and shows the impact the Every Player Counts project has had on so many people with disabilities from across the country over the last 12 months. Year one of the project has seen over 500 people with disabilities from across Coventry and Warwickshire access Football and without the support from the EFL Trust and Wembley National Stadium Trust, opportunities would be far less.”
Sky Blues in the Community are continuing to engage more and more children, young people and adults during Year Two of the Every Player Counts project, furthering the reach of the project and increasing local football opportunities for people with disabilities.
If you would like any further information about Sky Blues in the Community’s disability focused work or would like to get involved in the project, please contact Inclusion Coordinator, Sam Flatley, via Telephone: 024 7678 6313 or Email: sam.flatley@ccfc.co.uk
