Turning the focus onto a side of the game that doesn’t get highlighted enough, England Football has teamed up with Goal Click to launch a photography series that tells the stories of disability football in England through the eyes and words of those involved, from England internationals to grassroots participants, coaches, referees and volunteers.
It’s a drum that is often beaten though the message always bears repeating: football is for everyone. It’s the global game that’s loved by billions, having an impact on fans in a million different ways. Now England Football are showcasing a specific cross-section of the football world with the help of Goal Click, with the partnership using analogue photography to highlight the football lives and communities of a cross-section of the disabled football community.
The photography series has today launched with members of the Cerebral Palsy football community, coinciding with the 2022 IFCPF Men’s World Cup, which is now underway in Salou, Barcelona.
Among the powerful stories being told is that of Matt Crossen, captain of the England Men’s CP team, whose side beat Venezuela 9-0 in their second group game on 5 May. Matt’s photos were taken at a pre-tournament training camp at St. George’s Park and also at his club in Norton, Teesside.
Matt is joined by Sarah Griffiths, who is a hospital doctor at Oxford University Hospitals and volunteers as a Disability and Inclusion Officer for Summertown Stars AFC in Oxford. Additionally, Sarah runs the Summertown Warriors, a football team for children with Cerebral Palsy and other physical disabilities. Sarah’s photos were captured during the fortnightly training sessions in North Oxfordshire.
The final story released today was that of 19-year-old Callum Branch, who used the series to tell the story of his experiences as a member of the Basildon Frame Football team.
The photography series follows the launch of The FA’s Football Your Way plan in October 2021. The plan is committed to developing and growing disability football in all formats, at all levels. The plan includes a commitment to make sure that the profile of the game is raised at every level and across all formats and pathways.
The first phase of the photography series with Matt, Sarah and Callum’s stories are available to view at englandfootball.com, with further stories being set to be revealed over the course of the summer.
