AFC Melksham, who have set up and run an Ability Counts disabled football team some 14 months ago, are now proud to have achieved affiliation as a Wiltshire FA Club in its own right.
The management of the scheme was master minded by AFC Melksham the Chippenham Sunday football premier league side, and its success is considered a model pilot for other local Wiltshire areas.
Brian Evans and his coaching/support team work with a squad of some 20 lads every week, based indoors in winter at Melksham Oak School gym and in the summer outdoors at Christie Miller Sports fields Bowerhill. All new players are always welcome.
Mike Rogers, AFC chairman, has, in conjunction with Wilts FA, obtained a Sports England Grant to further extend Ability Counts coaching sessions across the county, the latest being Fairfield Farm College near Westbury, having indoor coaching sessions every Sunday morning and being affiliated as an adult disabled team. Facility and coaching costs, plus kit and balls have been funded by an AFC Melksham Grant and this is now in progress.
Starting in January will see AFC Melksham and Wilts FA working with Trowbridge Active in setting up another starter coaching session(s) at John Gaunt School, spreading the availability of football outlets for Ability Counts boys, girls and adults.
Wilts FA and AFC Melksham, with support from the Chippenham Sunday football league, have been active in organising Wilts and Dorset multi team Ability Counts tournaments at Stanley Park Chippenham, and teams from Swindon, Bournemouth and Melksham have participated. More are planned and it is hoped the new start up clubs will join the numbers, bringing healthy competition to the ever improving disabled football scene.
The further extension of disabled football coaching to local towns such as Devizes and around Wiltshire will be goals for 2014.
