Welcome to the Disabled Football Section at St.Albans City Youth F.C.

Dan, Anthony and the players would like to thank all those at City Youth for their ongoing assistance with the team, especially Dave Wray.  We would also like to thank the parents who have provided food, washed kit, driven minibuses and run the line.  Finally, a special mention to Ted Nash for being an excellent ref!

Background

The Disabled Football section was setup by Daniel Rogers in December 2005, We started with just 5 players training  at the clubs Highfield Park base. Today, there are more and more clubs and organizations than ever before providing quality coaching and regular competitive football for players with disabilities. The creation of regional FA coaching centres and Ability Counts leagues have developed much clearer pathways for elite players who aspire to play for the England disability squads. Organizations such as Mencap, Special Olympics and Paralympics, as well as Ability Counts clubs are also ensuring that players with similar ambitions are given the opportunity to play at regional, national or international level. The Disability Section at St. Albans City Youth is focused on the development of disability football within Hertfordshire. In 2006/7 the team enjoyed a successful first season in the London & South East Ability Counts Football League playing teams like Chelsea and Ipswich. We had the opportunity to play at Chelsea’s training ground against Chelsea DFC. On New Years Day the team went to Craven Cottage for a penalty competition during the Fulham – Watford Premiership match.  In May the team competed at Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium in the Northampton Disability Football Festival. Other trips for our players included watching the first match at the new Wembley Stadium. We are also organising the first Annual Hertfordshire Disability Football Fesatival at the home of St .Albans City Youth FC, Highfiled Park on 29th July 2007.

Disability Squad Season 2006/07  Picture and Player Profiles click here >>>>

Dan Rogers

My name is Daniel Rogers and I am the Disability Development Officer at St.Albans City Youth. I am a qualified Level 2 Football coach, and I have over 10 years experience  working with people disabilities.  Being disabled myself with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities ; I know how hard it can be to get into football epically at school age. My aim is to help more young disabled people into football and to enjoy them self’s. The long term aim is to get teams to play on regular bases in The London and South East Ability Counts Football League  there are 85 disabled teams in the UK because of the wide  range of  disability’s they have to be split up into -Amputee Football, Blind Football, Corbel palsy football, deaf football, learning disabilities, pan disability football. There are also National Teams in place, In April I went to Geneva to play football for England Gateway in the 2005 European Championship This year I won the Paul Pearce award coach of disabled performers 2006 for all the work I have done for disabled sports in St.Albans for City youth and Special Olympics, Now I work within special need schools and day care centres providing sporting opportunities for people with disabilities. Dan is also a multi sports coach for Herts. Sports Partnership and a member of The FA Board Disability Equality Advisory Group