Disability football festival at Hale End
More than 250 young players from across England came together for the final Premier League Disability Football Festival of the summer at Arsenal’s Hale End.
Premier League Disability Football Festivals giving young people a sense of belonging; this festival was one of three held throughout the year, bringing together 14 to 16-year-olds for short, sharp six-a-side games alongside workshops to support physical and mental wellbeing.
Matches lasted 10 minutes with the emphasis not on scorelines, but on inclusion, joy, and the belief that every young person deserves a place in football.
Freya, playing for the Albion team, has ADHD and autism which can make social situations and concentration on the pitch more challenging, but for her, football has been the bridge to confidence she once struggled to find.
“I used to be nervous talking to people,” she said. “But on the pitch, I had to do it, so now I feel like I can do it anywhere.”
Her mum Sam added: “It’s life changing. She’s happier, more outgoing and not afraid to try new things anymore.
“Football helped her see her autism and ADHD as her superpower. It’s transformed her confidence.”
“No matter your background or disability, you can be part of the game,” said Clare Sumner, the Premier League’s Chief Policy & Social Impact Officer.
“Days like today prove that. You can see from the smiles on their faces just how much it means.”
The Premier League Disability Football Festivals, delivered in partnership with club charities, aim to give young people with disabilities opportunities to develop skills and confidence in a supportive environment.
This season alone, more than 750 young people with disabilities have taken part in Premier League-funded programme, all with tailored provision for those who are neurodivergent or have physical disabilities.
Find out more about disability football.
