The FA celebrated the launch of the Disability Football Development Fund by revealing a £1.5m investment into the sport over the next four years.
At the House of Parliament this week, England Blind team players Lewis Skyers and Dan English joined Minister for Disabled People Mike Penning MP to unveil the new fund which supports the nation’s most-played disability team sport.
Disability football is also the seventh most played team sport overall with currently 35 County Disability Football Leagues and more than 1500 disability football teams in England.
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The Houses of Parliament hosted the launch
The FA underlined its commitment to delivering football for everyone as the National Game Board committed £1.5m from 2014-2017.
Through this funding The FA aims to encourage more than 30,000 new participants with a disability into football and almost 600 new disability football teams.
MP Andrew Griffiths was also present and, along with Penning, Sykers and English, took part in a penalty shootout on Speaker’s Green just outside the Houses of Parliament.
“We had players and coaches from the England blind football team taking part,” said Griffiths.
“We had to wear blindfolds and take penalties against some of the players. The ball they use has a bell in so they know where it is.
“Four of us scored and I’m happy to say I was one of them!”
The penalty shootout on Speaker’s Green
