Foundation players receive England call-ups
Seven young players in the BHAFC Foundation’s disability football programme have received call-ups to represent England in the FA’s Para Talent Pathway.
The group will all be part of the National Emerging Talent Programme for 16-19 year olds; one of the final steps on the Talent Pathway before representing England in senior internationals.
Foundation players who received international call-ups this summer include:
- Crystal – Cerebral Palsy women’s squad (goalkeeper)
- Olivia – Cerebral Palsy women’s squad
- Toby – Cerebral Palsy men’s squad
- Jack – Partially sighted squad
- Ryan – Partially sighted squad
- Brandon – Partially sighted squad
- Ollie – Deaf men’s squad
Jack, who will join up with the partially sighted squad, spoke about the pride he felt after receiving the news.
“I’m bursting with pride to have been selected for the FA National Emerging Talent Programme,” Jack said.
“The Foundation have played a massive part in my achievements and have made me so welcome since I joined in 2018, and over the last few years I’ve worked hard towards this goal with the help of the great coaches in the Foundation.
“Being accepted onto the programme is a huge step forward and gives me even more motivation to keep improving and pushing myself. My ultimate ambition is to become a first-team England player for the partially sighted squad, and this achievement brings me one step closer to making that dream a reality.”
Jack’s dad spoke of the impact Foundation coaches have had on Jack’s development.
“We are incredibly proud of everything Jack has achieved,” he said.
“The support and opportunities provided by the BHAFC Foundation have played a huge part in Jack’s development, both as a footballer and as a person.”
Phil Broom, Disability Football Manager at the Foundation, was delighted to see so many of his young players earn call-ups.
“We’ve got a lot of very talented players in our disability talent pathway, and it’s a credit to these seven young people that they’ve earned a place on the National Emerging Talent Programme,” Phil said.
“We have a history of Foundation players going on to perform for their national teams, so it’s great to see that tradition continuing with this crop of young players.”
Find out more about the Foundation’s disability football programme here.