Solly March meets players at AITC football session
Players at one of Albion in the Community’s (AITC) football sessions for people with a disability met one of their Albion heroes when Solly March visited a holiday course being held at the training ground.
More than 35 players were at the session, which took place on the Community Pitch at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre during the recent school holidays.
And as well as learning new skills, they were given the chance to quiz the winger about life in the Premier League.
March, a regular at AITC sessions this season, was only too pleased to join. He said: “It’s massive for players to be able to get involved in things like this.
“I suppose that’s what being in the Premier League can do – as players we’re enjoying it, and so are the fans. Then you see these community sessions going well too and realise how much of an impact it can have.
“The club has a big impact in the local community and these types of projects are probably more full than ever now and everyone wants to get involved.
“The players here get brilliant coaching and it’s all really positive.”
As well as increased demand from players wanting to attend AITC sessions, the Premier League has another impact on AITC’s disability team. The charity receives funding from an initiative set up by the Premier League and BT to support programmes aimed at people with a disability. The funding given to AITC has allowed the charity to further expand the number of sessions it holds and add two new members of staff to its specialist coaching team.
And to celebrate the partnership, a film crew from BT were also at the session in Lancing to record a feature on AITC that will be broadcast on the channel later this month.
The film focuses on Chase Wells, who attends a number of AITC’s regular sessions, including one for junior players with cerebral palsy.
And March was keen to praise the youngster. “He’s a remarkable young man,” said March. “A few years ago he had to be assisted to walk and now he’s running around a football pitch with a smile on his face. That’s great to see and he loves scoring goals as well!”
AITC now runs 31 different sessions for people with a disability, which are attended by more than 300 players every fortnight.
For more information on AITC’s sessions, email: disability@bhafcfoundation.org.uk.
Follow AITC on Twitter at @Albioninthecomm to find out when then BT film will air.