The Football Association has pledged £40,000 to support the GB deaf men and women’s squads at a major international tournament in 2017.
The FA, which has been supporting elite disability teams for 17 years, is conscious that GB Deaf Football – representing all four home nations – does not receive public funding. This donation will particularly aid the squad’s English-based players to train and prepare ahead of both men’s and women’s teams travelling to the prestigious Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey next July.
Jeff Davis, The FA’s national elite development manager, disability, said: “We are pleased to be able to make this donation as The FA is absolutely committed to promoting all forms of the game, especially with the incredible growth in disability football - both in terms of participation and public interest.
“It has been a remarkable year for our sport, after our men’s Cerebral Palsy team performed so well at the Paralympics in Rio. We certainly wish the Team GB deaf squads all the best for Turkey next summer.”
The funding is a further example of The FA’s commitment as a not for profit organisation to ensuring football for all. In all, the game’s governing body has designated £1.4m to helping the six elite impairment-specific squads and has also directed £500,000 towards the disability talent programme. The FA is also putting £1.8m into grassroots funding for disability growth and participation.
The Deaflympics date back to 1924 and are an International Olympic Committee sanctioned competition, held every four years, where deaf athletes are able to compete an elite level. They are the longest-running multi-sport global event other than the Olympic Games.
The FA, which has been supporting elite disability teams for 17 years, is conscious that GB Deaf Football – representing all four home nations – does not receive public funding. This donation will particularly aid the squad’s English-based players to train and prepare ahead of both men’s and women’s teams travelling to the prestigious Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey next July.
Jeff Davis, The FA’s national elite development manager, disability, said: “We are pleased to be able to make this donation as The FA is absolutely committed to promoting all forms of the game, especially with the incredible growth in disability football - both in terms of participation and public interest.
“It has been a remarkable year for our sport, after our men’s Cerebral Palsy team performed so well at the Paralympics in Rio. We certainly wish the Team GB deaf squads all the best for Turkey next summer.”
The funding is a further example of The FA’s commitment as a not for profit organisation to ensuring football for all. In all, the game’s governing body has designated £1.4m to helping the six elite impairment-specific squads and has also directed £500,000 towards the disability talent programme. The FA is also putting £1.8m into grassroots funding for disability growth and participation.
The Deaflympics date back to 1924 and are an International Olympic Committee sanctioned competition, held every four years, where deaf athletes are able to compete an elite level. They are the longest-running multi-sport global event other than the Olympic Games.
