A FUNDRAISING appeal has been launched to help a group of Bradford City Disability Club's players and coaches take part in next year's Special Olympics.

A group of nine players and coaches from the club have been selected for the Yorkshire and Humberside squad for the event which takes place in Liverpool in August 2021.

More than 2,000 athletes will take part in a wide range of sports at next year's Special Olympics, including gymnastics, swimming and motor activities training programme for people with multiple cognitive disabilities.

The Bantams representatives need to raise £3,500 to fund their participation at the Special Olympics, which will pay for accommodation, travel costs and tracksuits.

Those selected for the squad from City DFC are: Bradley Toll, Henry Waughby, Steven Jowett, Simon Rothery, Mark Dalton, Alyssa McClaren and Louise Hudson, alongside coaches Jaimie Dorward and Stephen Haigh.

All nine players and coaches have been selected for the squad following a successful season for City DFC.

 

Their Claret team won the Sheffield and Hallamshire treble last season; of the five-a-side Premier League Divisional Cup and County Cup played at Hillsborough.

City's Diamond team won the Sheffield and Hallamshire five-a-side Championship league.

Their ladies team, which are the only ones in the county reached the final of the FA People's Cup for the second season running, losing 2-1 to Plymouth, to a last minute goal at St George's Park, the home of the England team.

Paul Jubb, City DFC head coach, says he hopes football will be back up and running long before the build-up to next year's Special Olympics. He also talked of how the City DFC squad are still bonding during the lockdown.

He said: "We need to raise the money to pay for our accommodation, travel and kits.

"They are all looking forward to it and we are trying to raise as much money as we can.

"All of our players miss their football. Next year we are going to Liverpool and hopefully we can make it.

"We would normally train for four hours a week. We started our season in September and managed to finish by February.

"We have helped fill lockdown separated from each other by having a FIFA tournament on the X Box and PS4. We have chat groups and we have had Zoom video calls.

"We are trying to keep busy as much as we can. They live for their football. It's my life too. Without it, we are at a bit of a loss."

Bradford City DFC holds disability football sessions, education, volunteering, short breaks and social events including attending Bradford City home and away games.

The projects are designed to maximize engagement opportunities for all children and adults, of any gender with any disability including physical, learning disabilities and complex mental health needs.

Go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bradfordcitydfc to make a donation.