New partnership launched to create Free Kicks United.
Peterborough United Football Club are delighted to announce the formation of a new disability football section, Free Kicks United, which has been set up in partnership between the Posh Foundation, city charity, The Free Kicks Foundation and ASD LTD.
The aim of setting up a new disability section in Peterborough is to ‘Increase football activity in the disabled community within Peterborough and the surrounding area by providing regular accessible football sessions and creating sustainable football opportunities for players with disability across the city and beyond’.
Free Kicks United has been set up to work closely with delivery partners and organisations in the Peterborough area through schools, colleges, charity groups, day centres and care homes to give access to football for all those people in the disability community by introducing new footballing opportunities to a part of the community which is so often overlooked.
By providing regular football opportunities delivered by experienced, qualified and passionate coaching staff, Free Kicks United will to deliver the regular sessions at the Nene Park Academy site hosted by Peterborough United. Coaching will also be delivered across the city to raise the profile and to publicise the regular weekend sessions that will take place.
Posh defender Christian Burgess has been named as the Free Kicks United patron and dates have been confirmed for the initial sessions. Those who wish to participate in the sessions are advised to email foundation@theposh.com with the details of which sessions they wish to attend.
Saturday March 14th – Junior and Adult Session (Pan-disability) Football 10:30am – 12:00pm
Saturday March 21st – Down Syndrome Football at Nene Park Academy 11:00am-12:30pm (then attendees have the option to go as a group to the Posh vs Chesterfield match at the ABAX Stadium)
Saturday March 28th – Powerchair (wheelchair) Football Session 10:30am-12:30pm (then attendees have the option to go as a group to the Posh vs Coventry match at the ABAX Stadium.
All Sessions will run indoor initially, so players should wear suitable footwear and clothing for indoor activity and bring their own drinks to ensure they remain suitably hydrated during the sessions.
Football in the Community Manager Nick Sheppard said: ‘We are delighted to be in a position to announce the formation of Free Kicks United and to be working closely with the Free Kicks Foundation and other partners across the city. Our aim is to get 50 players signed up to the programme by September 2015 and we have 32 sessions of weekend activity planned starting in March.
‘Football should be for all, regardless of age, race or disability and it is vitally important that we are able to put on sessions for everybody in the Peterborough community and beyond. We believe that Free Kicks United can be a key fixture in the community and look forward to what lies ahead.’
Steve Thorpe from the Free Kicks Foundation said: ‘We at Free Kicks Foundation are incredibly proud to be part of the launch of Free Kicks United, in partnership with Peterborough United and ASD Ltd. We have been looking to diversify and increase the scope of what we do for a while and this is the ideal project to become involved in. We are delighted to be able to make high class football coaching available to individuals who may otherwise not get the chance.’
Patron Christian Burgess added: ‘When I was approached to be the patron of Free Kicks United, it was something that I immediately wanted to get involved in. The plans sound great and I want to get involved in as much as I can. ‘