Ability Counts Centre of Excellence

Football development for youth players with disabilities will take a great stride forward in Middlesex with the advent of its first approved FA Ability Counts Centre of Excellence. The Middlesex County Football Association has been working hard to offer the disabled community the same opportunities to access a player pathway which is available to mainstream participants since the inception of a Football Development Officer for People with Disabilities in June 2007.

Building on a strategy established through the Football Association and in conjunction with the London Sports Forum for Disabled People the Middlesex County FA has rapidly begun developing opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly in schools. The FA Ability Counts Centre of Excellence will be open for the most talented young disabled people to be able to access. The two age bands which players will be invited to trial for from February are U17 (three year age band) and U14 (four year age band).

Special Schools have had a taste of football on offer through the Middlesex County Football Association with its Schools Leagues Leagues at Ruislip and Barnet for boys and girls with Moderate and Severe Learning Difficulties and Emotional Behaviour Difficulties.

The FA Ability Counts Centre of Excellence is the next potential exit route for young players showing ability and desire to further their football career. A team of FA qualified coaches will train and develop the players moulding one U17 and one U14 team which will play regular fixtures against other approved Centres of Excellence and Representative teams. Players who excel at this level will have the opportunity to progress further up the player pathway and ultimately play for the England national side.