Deaf children from across the Reading area were invited to hone their football skills at Madejski Stadium's Indoor Training Dome last Wednesday when a Deaf Friendly Football Festival was held by our Community Trust coaches.
Organised by our Trust and the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), three groups of boys and girls took part in coaching sessions and mini games organised by our FA qualified coaches.
NDCS volunteers provided full communication support and deaf coaches were also on hand to help out if needed, but the common language of football meant there were no communication problems on the pitch.
And Royals skipper Ivar Ingimarsson arrived to watch and play an active part in some of the small matches that were being played in the dome.
Hayley Jarvis, NDCS Sports and Leisure Activities Manager explains: "We know there has been a severe lack of football opportunities available from grassroots to elite level for deaf children in the past.
"Deafness makes it harder for children to communicate which can be very isolating, and many find it difficult to participate in football because clubs are not set up to support their needs.
"The Deaf Friendly Football Club Project is revolutionising the sport at all levels for deaf children and young people."
With the aid of a speedy sign language expert, Ingimarsson took part in a very interesting question and answer session with the children, in which they found out that he started as a striker when he was a youngster growing up in Iceland.
After a quick stint in goal, the Royals centre back signed posters and had his picture taken with a lot of the children, who all had a fantastic time.
The NDCS Deaf Friendly Football Project is being funded with the help of a £211,608 grant from the UK's largest sports charity, the Football Foundation.
Reading Football Club has committed to the project and over the course of the next two years, with the support of NDCS, there will be regular coaching sessions for deaf footballers to attend, with the ultimate aim of setting up a Reading Deaf Youth Football Club.
You can see Ivar and the kids in action in a special video story which is now live on our online TV station, Reading Player.
