Joel Veltman and Matt O’Riley surprise disability football camp
Two Albion players made a surprise visit to a group of players at a disability football camp in Lancing on Wednesday.
Joel Veltman and Matt O’Riley both met the group in the middle of a holiday football session being run by the club’s charity, the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation.
The pair surprised players at the football camp, which was being held on the community pitch at the club’s American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing.
Participants had the chance to meet and get photos with the Albion players, ask questions about life as a Premier League player, and get some items signed.
Both O’Riley and Veltman have been ambassadors for the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation in previous seasons, supporting the charity by attending events, meeting participants, and promoting the work of the foundation.
The BHAFC Foundation’s disability football programme provides access to football for about 400 players across Sussex, with sessions for players of all abilities.
Phil Broom, disability football manager at the Foundation, said his participants were delighted to meet the players.
“Everyone was so excited to meet Matt and Joel, a lot of our players are big Albion fans and they were so pleased to meet them.
“These special moments can have such a big impact on a young participant’s life, and it’s definitely a moment they’ll all never forget.
“We’re really lucky to receive so much support from the club and the first team players, especially Matt and Joel who have both given us a lot of their time over the years.”
Joel Veltman has been at the club for six years and first became an ambassador for the charity in 2022.In that time he has made dozens of appearances at BHAFC Foundation events and met hundreds of participants.
Veltman said, “I had a great time visiting the holiday camp, everyone was really excited and enjoying their football. It’s always nice to be able to meet people at Foundation sessions.
“It’s good to shine a light on the disability football sessions they run, it’s an amazing programme that makes a huge difference to a lot of people.”
The Foundation’s disability football programme is supported by the Premier League and PFA Players’ Fund, which helps provide heavily subsidised access to disability football sessions like this holiday camp.
Phil Broom said: “The Premier League and PFA’s support is so important for our programme, and we’re really grateful for the help they provide through the Players’ Fund.”
