The Royals Community Trust recently organised a special soccer skils session in conjunction with Turnstone Support - with ten of the organisation's service users.
Turnstone Support are not-for-profit organisation that helps adults with individual needs to lead fulfilling and independent lives and Reading FC Community Trust Officer Phil Girffiths was delighted to welcome a team of men and women with learning disabilities to Madejski Stadium.
All ten were able to take part in the Indoor Training Dome session, regardless of ability or mobility, and six more watched the session before enjoying a behind the scenes tour of the Madejski Stadium.
The team got to look inside the dressing rooms, sit in the dugout and head pitchside and one lucky Turnstone service user even won a pair of match tickets for our next home game against Sheffield Wednesday later this month.
Phil Griffiths, the club's Community Trust Disability Officer, started coaching at the club in 2002 and has recently specialised in the coaching of both able bodied and disabled footballers.
Late last year the new Football Pools presented Reading FC's Community Trust with a cheque for £60,000 to fund a new scheme that will help to grow disability football provision across the local area.
'Every Player Counts', a leading project of The Football League Trust, will see Reading's Community Trust deliver a three-year scheme that will develop football opportunities for people with all types of disability in Berkshire and the Thames Valley.
This week Reading Football Club's Community Trust are also running several special half term soccer schools.
Coaching sessions for youngsters with hearing, behavioural and other disabilities will all take place this week.
Deaf Football
Date: Tuesday 16th February 2010
Venue: Academy Sport, Northumberland Avenue, Reading RG2 8DF
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Ages: 10-16
Cost: £6
PAN Disability
Date: Wednesday 17th February 2010
Venue: Academy Sport, Northumberland Avenue, Reading RG2 8DF
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Ages: 10-18
Cost: £6
Autistic soccer school - Berkshire Autistic Society
Date: Friday 19th February
Venue: Academy Sport, Northumberland Avenue, Reading RG2 8DF
Time: 1pm - 2pm
Ages: 8-15
Cost: £3
