Carrigaline United Football for All
Annual Review Season 2015/16
Peil do gach eile duine
CONT Carrigaline United AFC Background - pg 4 Football for All Overview - pg 5 Our Mission & Our Purpose - pg 6 Our Aims - pg 7 Review - Core Objectives 2015/16 - pg 8 Core Objectives 2016/17 - pg 9 Sponsored Kit - pg 10
Football for all
TENTS Cork City Marathon 2015 & 2016 - pg 12 Carrigaline United FFA Blitz - pg 14 FAI National Blitz Dublin - pg 16 Competitor Blitz Munster Region - pg 17 Marketing Material - pg 23 Testimonials - pg 34 Contact Details - pg 36
Carrigaline United AFC Carrigaline United AFC soccer club was established in 1972 and currently has over 100 Coaches, in excess of 1,000 playing members, making up a total of 42 teams. The club is represented at all age levels and has soccer teams competing in the Cork AUL, Munster Senior League, Cork Ladies League and the Cork Schoolboy/Schoolgirls League. Carrigaline United continues to build and grow and is regarded as one of the largest football clubs in the Southside of Cork.
The clubs motto is “Peil do gach eile duine� (Football For All), it is a community led club, dependant on the contribution of volunteers with a strong focus on inclusion and accessibility, so as to serve local communities in the vicinity and beyond Carrigaline itself. In 1985 our new football facility at Ballea Park was officially opened, and has continued to 4
develop over the years. As well as a grass pitch, we have a FIFA approved full size all weather pitch, along with accessibility ramps and hand rails, fully floodlight, the pitch is constantly in use. Alongside the multitude of CUAFC teams from Under-7 to Over-35, the FAI FAS programme, the FAI Coach Education programme, and Rebel Bootcamp also regularly make use of the fantastic facility. The clubhouse, bar and changing rooms opened in 2004, there are four team dressing rooms with shower facilities, a referees changing room, toilets for ladies and gents, as well as a balcony out front for spectators. A conference room adjoins our fully licensed club bar, used for club meetings and post-match analysis.
Football for All
2011 saw the establishment of the FAI club programme ‘Football For All’ (FFA) at Carrigaline United AFC so as to enable access to team sport for children outside of mainstream. In the interest of inclusiveness the CUAFC Committee incorporated FFA training into the mainstream academy on Saturday mornings, allocating substantial pitch space and access to training equipment from the club. From 10 players in 2011, FFA has since grown to over 55 boys and girls, with varying needs including ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Hearing Impairment, Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome. The programme offers players with various challenges, the opportunity to access regular, professional football training and to participate in regular competitions with other similar clubs.
CUFFA has now established a number of Junior Teams catering for 6-13yr olds. Groups are determined by ability and needs, with a minimum of two coaches per group. Additionally, a newly formed Youth Team is specifically designed for 13–18yr old boys and girls and is an opportunity for players from our 6-13yr group to graduate into, but new members are also welcome to join. Coach education plays a key role in the development of FFA players. Our coaches are FAI trained, Garda vetted and have completed accredited Child Welfare & Protection courses. Some coaches have also been appointed and trained as First Aiders. Many of our coaches are parents who have a broad range of expertise in working with different challenges and volunteer their time to support the programme.
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Our Mission To plan, co-ordinate, develop and deliver opportunities for children with Special Needs of 6 years and older to get the opportunity to play soccer for their local club.
Our Purpose To deliver football opportunities to children and teens who may not ordinarily get a chance to play soccer. Offer players outside of mainstream, with various challenges, from the age of 6 years up, the opportunity to access regular, professional football training and to participate in competitions. 6
Our Aims Create greater awareness and promote a culture of inclusion within the club, the community and beyond. Advocate social interaction, social skills, team spirit and developing friendships. Increase activity levels, make exercise fun and establish the routine of taking regular exercise. Promote better co-ordination, balance, flexibility and body awareness. Facilitate teamwork, learn new skills and follow rules in a relaxed, safe and fun environment. Foster a sense of confidence, achievement and wellbeing among players. 7
Review - Core Objectives 2015/16 health & Safety - All coaches are registered with the club, are FAI trained, Garda vetted and have completed accredited Child Welfare & Protection courses. - Parents are encouraged to stay on the sideline to assist their child if required. - FFA First Aid Officer completed further training in 2016. Inclusion - FFA Training sessions prioritised by club through scheduling pitch availability and provision of training equipment alongside mainstream Academy training sessions. - The Club and Academy regularly accommodates and supports FFA events, fundraisers and committee meetings and participates in community events. - Recognised for efforts by winning the Cork School Boys League Inclusion Award 2016. Promotion - Developed brochure and posters to promote the FFA programme and recruit new players. - Issued media releases highlighting various events and milestones. - Organised a number of relay teams for the Cork City Marathon in 2015 and 2016, kitted out in CUFFA branded tops. Awareness - Information stand at the Sportsability event in UCC in April 2016. - Led the CUAFC Academy in the Carrigaline St. Patricks Day parade. - Played at Cork City FC, Airtricity League Halftime games in Turners Cross.
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Organisation - FFA committee grew from 3 to 4 officers. - The coaching team continues to grow now including two SNA’s, allowing for 1-1 coaching where needed. Engagement - Strong focus on players understanding the training activities and drills, especially those with language disorder, hearing impairment and lack of concentration, by utilising visual cues and practical examples. - Social activities organised beyond playing soccer - group trips, footgolf, attendance at blitz competitions and meeting up in clubhouse after training. child development - “Ability appropriate” training employed, along with combining skill based drills with positive reinforcement and encouragement. coach Education - All FFA coaches up-to-date with their FAI coaching programmes and Disability Sports workshops. Fundraising & Sponsorship - Local businesses have sponsored kit for both the Junior and Youth Teams, including home and away jerseys and full tracksuits. - Funds were raised through a number of events including: Christmas Raffle, Tag Rugby event, Cork Mini Marathon and Cork City Marathon. Sustainability - FFA Youth Team established to cater for older players in the 14 to 18 years bracket.
Core Objectives 2016/17 health & Safety - Appoint more First Aid Officers and cover cost of appropriate training. - Ensure all new coaches complete relevant Child Welfare & Protection courses. - Catalogue conditions and challenges of players within FFA group. Inclusion - Ensure the good work completed at the club around inclusion continues. - Having pride in our club and community and to ensure that our children have a sense of belonging to their club. - Providing pitch availability for training, events and FFA Blitz. - Providing training equipment. - Investigate feasibility of raising sufficient funds to develop a purpose built and fully accessible dressing room and gym facilities on ground floor extension. Promotion - Develop an FFA specific website and promote through social media. - Continue to issue media releases highlighting our events and milestones. - Organise relay teams for the Cork City Marathon in 2017, kitted out in CUFFA branded tops. Awareness - Attend the 2017 Sportsability event in UCC. - Lead the CUAFC Academy in the Carrigaline St. Patricks Day parade. - Formalise a more regular schedule of appearances at Cork City FC, Airtricity League Halftime games in Turners Cross. - Identify further opportunities to build presence beyond our locality.
Organisation - Ensure correct supports are in place to sustain the FFA programme. - Regularise frequency of Coach and Committee Meetings. - Identify suitable officers and coaching staff. - Encourage parental involvement. - Continue to seek parent feedback and input both informally and through the Parent Information Night. Engagement - Continue with emphasis on player comprehension, providing 1-1 support when necessary. - Expand social programme of events. child Development - Continue with ability centric training. - Keep abreast of new training practices and ways to support non-mainstream players. coach Education - Notify coaching team of training opportunities from the FAI and other accredited training providers. - Ensure that new FFA coaching volunteers complete the appropriate FAI programmes, including Disability sports workshops. Fundraising & Sponsorship - Examine the possibility of establishing an annual 5k inclusive fundraising “Walk for All� within the community, and possibly within all Football For All Clubs. - Local business cash and in-kind sponsorship of prizes, goods and services. - Fundraising events: Christmas Raffle, Tag Rugby event and Cork City Marathon. Sustainability - Recruitment of new players and coaches. - Completion of Coaching Manual.
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Fundraising & Sponsorship Sponsored Tracksuits
Carrigaline United FFA Tracksuits Sponosored by:
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Fundraising & Sponsorship
Sponsored Jerseys
FFA Junior Teams - Kit 1 Sponosored by:
FFA Junior Teams - Kit 2 Sponosored by:
FFA Youth Teams - Kit 1 Sponosored by:
FFA Youth Teams - Kit 2 Sponosored by:
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Fundraising & Sponsorship Cork City Maration 2015
Fundraising & Sponsorship
Womens Mini Maration 2015
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Fundraising & Sponsorship
Cork City Maration 2016
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Inclusion & Engagement
Carrigaline United FFA Blitz October 2015
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Inclusion & Engagement
Carrigaline United FFA Blitz
October 2015
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Inclusion & Engagement FAI National Blitz Dublin June 2015
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Inclusion & Engagement
Killarney Celtic Blitz
September 2015
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Inclusion & Engagement Limerick FC Blitz January 2016
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Inclusion & Engagement
Midleton FC Blitz
March 2016
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Inclusion & Engagement Park Rangers AFC Blitz Waterford, April 2016
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Inclusion & Engagement
Cahir Park AFC Blitz
May 2016
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Promotion & Awareness Brochure
Football For All, Carrigaline United AFC, Ballea Park, Ballea Road, Carrigaline, Co. Cork. (021) 437 6991
Contact Football For All: Killian 086 864 5700 or Brian 086 277 8372
Bandon - Carrigaline - Douglas Court - Mahon Point
let’s play
Carrigaline United AFC
proudly supports
www.carrigalineunitedafc.com
Carrigaline United AFC Football For All Club Programme
sOccer
for children & teens with varying ability
www.mooresjewellers.com Member of the Royal Jewellers of Ireland
CARRIGALINE UNITED AFC
FAI FOOTBALL FOR ALL
Carrigaline United AFC soccer club, situated at Ballea Park, is one of the largest football clubs in the Southside of Cork, with over 100 coaches and in excess of 1,000 playing members representing all age levels.
It is recognised that participation in and enjoyment of football can positively impact quality of life. The FAI promotes an ethos of inclusion within the football community, and this Football For All programme has at its core the aim to deliver football opportunities to people who may not ordinarily get a chance to play the ‘beautiful game’.
Football For All was established in 2011 to enable access to team sport for children outside of mainstream. It has since grown to over 35 boys and girls, with varying needs including ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome.
This FAI supported programme aims to give players outside of mainstream with various challenges, from the age of 6 years up, the opportunity to access regular, professional football training and to participate in competitions.
WHY JOIN
FOOTBALL FOR ALL ? Facilitates teamwork, learning new skills and following rules in a relaxed, safe and fun environment.
JUNIOR TEAMS (6-13yrs) The Football For All Junior Teams cater for 6-13yr old girls and boys with varying abilities. The new season commences in September, with training taking place every Saturday morning in Ballea Park. Recruitment for the new season has already begun, we always welcome new members, not only in September but throughout the year. Contact us to find out how to sign up, details overleaf.
YOUTH TEAM (13-18yrs) The Football For All Youth Team is specifically designed for 13–18yr old boys and girls. Training weekly in Ballea Park from the commencement of the new season in September. While players from our 6-13yr old group graduate into this team, we are also recuiting new members to join. Contact us to find out how to sign up, details overleaf.
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Promotes better co-ordination, balance, flexibility and body awareness. Increases activity levels, makes excercise fun and establishes the routine of taking regular excercise. Advocates social interaction, social skills, team spirit and developing friendships. Fosters a sense of confidence, achievement and wellbeing.
OUR COACHES Coach education plays a key role in the development of Football For All players. Our coaches are FAI trained, Garda vetted, and have completed accredited Child Welfare & Protection courses; additionally some coaches have also been appointed and trained as First Aiders. Many of our coaches are parents who have a broad range of expertise in working with different challenges and volunteer their time to support the programme.
Promotion & Awareness
Posters/Adverts
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Promotion & Awareness Media
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Promotion & Awareness
Media
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Promotion & Awareness Media 38 Sport
Thriving club have serious aims for the year ahead
Evening Echo, Wednesday, July 22, 2015
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î Ž %DUEDUD 2Č &RQQHOO CARRIGALINE coach Killian Conlon explains to Barbara O’Connell what the club’s ambitious plans are for the upcoming season. “We are hoping in the year ahead to initiate a major campaign with the aim of securing additional facilities not only so we can cater for FFA, but for all young players who want to be part of their local club. The reality is we urgently need more pitches to meet the demands of the ever increasing growth and development of our community. “In this regard we will be looking not only for corporate and local business support, but equally we will be looking for our local political representatives to recognise and support the need for Carrigaline to have the facilities for all players, both mainstream, and those with disabilities so the club can continue to cater for the demand that exists. “We have an incredible PRO and promotional officer on board for FFA, Brian O’Shea, and he has been instrumental in securing sponsorship from a number of local businesses for the FFA programme. “We have sponsored kits from Astra Constr uction, Stryker, Moores Jewellers, Sports Direct, and most recently Johnson and Perrot in Mahon. In addition we are in discussions with Moores Jewellers about sponsoring the FFA programme for the 2015/2016 season. John Moore has been especially supportive of the programme, and ve r y g e n e r o u s l y g i f t e d a beautiful Telstar watch to each FFA player at the end of this season. “We hope to continue to build on this relationship in the season ahead. “In addition we have a wonderful group of parents and in the last year we have held a Christmas Raffle, as well as having over 20 parents and friends running in the Cork City Marathon to raise Funds for the FFA Programme. “This fundraising allowed us to subsidise a trip to Dublin recently where over 30 of our FFA players and their parents got to travel to the Ireland Vs Scotland match at the Aviva. “The next day we attended the FAI run FFA National blitz at Abbotstown which was very well organised by Oisin Jordan, FFA National Development officer for the FAI. On the day we had one of the biggest groups in attendance with four teams competing at different age levels. “Each team played with such intensity and determination that all coaches, parents, and supporters in attendence were overjoyed at their efforts. Club Chairman Willie Walsh, had again made the long trip to Dublin to support the Carrigaline FFA teams, as h e h a d f o r p r e v i o u s F FA Blitzes, and again this just further exemplifies the unerring support from the club of the FFA Programme.â€?
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At the beginning you don’t need any specialist skills. All you need is a ball. It does not matter if you are big or small, young or old, fat or thin and more importantly if you are handicapped or struggling with an illness. Once you have the desire to kick a ball, you can play football. Carrigaline Football Club believe in this statement. Everyone in their locality should be able to play football and they have made it part of their constitution that every child that wants to play with the club will be given an opportunity to do so. To allow that to happen they embraced the Football For All philosophy and set up their own team in June 2011. What was once just a training programme for a few, has grown into something much bigger and it has become very important to the club as coach Killian Conlon explains. “When the programme started back in 2011, there were 10 to 15 kids attending training, mainly on the ASD spectrum and outside mainstream,� said Conlon. “Today, the programme caters for nearly 40 kids who face a range of challenges, from sensory processing difficulties, ASD, Cerebal Palsy, Down Syndrome, Dyspraxia, as well as players who have vision impairment or hearing difficulties. “From the beginning, chairman Willie Walsh was very supportive of the idea and made all club facilities available to the initiative. This in retrospect was of critical importance not to only sustaining the programme but to build on it so that now the Football For All Team is an integral part of the club.� And that is certainly the case. If you go to the Ballea Park on a Saturday morning you will see FFA teams training side by side with the mainstream teams. Interestingly as FFA is so well integrated within the club you will just see them as any other group of young kids enjoying a kick around on a Saturday morning. For Conlon and other coaches the most important factor is that the children are treated like the other kids in the club. “The core ethos of the Carrigaline Football For All Programme is that it caters for all children of all abilities. Our aim is to provide a safe and inclusive environment where all players can feel part of their team and indeed their community, and we aim to provide a playing environment that will nurture their talent so they can succeed thereby increasing their own self esteem and confidence. Once the players are happy and enjoying themselves that is the essential measure of success of the programme. “I cannot overstate how supportive the club have been, right from
Promotion & Awareness
Media Sport
Evening Echo, Wednesday, July 22, 2015
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&DUULJDOLQH ))$ SOD\HUV DQG PDQDJHPHQW EHIRUH WKHLU WULS WR $EERWVWRZQ WR SOD\ LQ D IULHQGO\ EOLW] the beginning. Willie was a driving force in terms of assisting our set up. He organised for us to meet with existing academy coaches and from that we had experienced coaches such as Michael Moloney and the head of the Carrigaline academy at the time Sean Bruton assisting us with coaching.� This support has continued and Thomas Coughlan who has been heading the Academy for the last number of years has also been of immense support to the programme. “Carrigaline has a huge population, and the club have limited s p a c e , c u r r e n t l y o n l y t wo pitches to cater for a population approaching 20,000, so for the club to be willing to give us a slot in the academy to ensure we could integrate the FFA programme underlines how supportive they have to been to the initiative. “Our FFA teams train every Saturday morning in the Ballea Park, over the last few years training has run from 10.15am to 11.15am, and we are waiting to confirm a time for the season ahead. The season runs from September to June so we are enjoying a short break currently, but will be back late August/ Early September. “We currently have over ten coaches, the majority of whom are all parents. In addition one of our coaches Helen Roynane is an SNA, and she is of huge assistance and particularly helpful in working with some of our kids who may need more one on one training. “I am also delighted to know t h a t w e w i l l h a ve M a r t i n O’Leary coming on board in assisting us with the development of our youth team. We are always looking for more volunteers, and coaches do not need to have a background in soccer, plenty of enthusiasm is the only pre-requisite, so if anyone else
wanted to get on board please feel free to get in touch. “Our FFA programme caters for players from all over Cork, of course the majority are based in Carrigaline, but again it is not a requirement. We have players from Douglas, Ballincolling, and many of the city suburbs, we even have a few who come up from West Cork every Saturday for the training. “There are some other clubs also running Football for All, Midleton have a great set up, and Skibbereen also have a strong team, we have enjoyed some good friendly matches with both over the last few seasons. “Further afield Killarney and Limerick FC also have excellent FFA programmes in operation, and there are a number of clubs in Dublin such as Lourdes Celtic who would also have a strong FFA set up. “FFA gives these kids the opportunity which they should naturally have, but to date have been denied, the chance to be part of their local team, to get together and enjoy sport at a level where they can achieve, build lasting friendships, and increase their own self esteem and confidence. “If you can imagine sport being denied to all kids, or the opportunity to play sports being denied to them, essentially it is the same, why should kids not have the opportunity to play soccer just because they may face a few extra challenges. “It is the same thing as saying only kids who can be as good as Messi or Rooney can play soccer, in which case you would have very few teams out there.� Players in FFA get what every soccer player gets, but FFA perhaps is more critical as not all clubs and sporting organisations are providing this opportunity, although a lot more of both are thankfully coming on board.
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KILLIAN CONLON, Carrigaline, reveals the club are focused on expanding their Football For All programme (FFA) for youth players. “Having successfully esatblished a FFA Programme for players in the six to 14 yearsold bracket our major objective in the season ahead is to establish teams in the 14-18 year-old category. We have begun our promotional campaign in this regard by recently contacting a lot of the local secondary schools. “Currently some of the FFA teams, such as Cahir AFC would have players in this category, but we will be one of the first clubs in the country to formally establish a FFA team for this age group. As our younger players are getting older it is of critical importance that there is an est a bl i s h e d p ro g r a m m e fo r them to step into, and again this further helps to integrate and raise awareness in the wider community not so much of disability, but of the ability of the players, and as stated eventually we would hope that it just becomes the norm to see these teams out enjoying a match at their local club on a Saturday, just like any other team currently. “The FAI are driving the FFA programme on a national level, and again as far as sporting bodies go, are leading the way in this regard. “We have had excellent support from Nick Harrison in terms of coaching our coaches, running disability awareness workshops, and being at hand to assist us in any way possible. “As FFA is in its infancy it does means longer trips to attend g ames, and securing funding for transport etc is always a challenge. In addition as mentioned earlier Carrigaline as a club has a huge population to cater for, and with only two pitches urgently needs to secure additional pitches so that it can cater, not only for mainstream players, but equally for the FFA teams. “It is our hope in the year ahead that we will be able to secure these grounds to allow us to continue to grow the FFA programme so that we have the facitilities to provide the players with the opportunity to play soccer with their local club and be part of their local team.� The FAI Football For All Development Officer, Nick Harrison, also came down to formally bring us under their programme, and ag ain assisted greatly with running some early training sessions. “The decision was then made to integrate the FFA Programme into part of the mainstream academy training on a Saturday morning. This was equally important as it ensure the FFA programme was put on an equal footing with other young teams within the Academy.�
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Promotion & Awareness Media
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Promotion & Awareness
Media
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Promotion & Awareness Media
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Promotion & Awareness
Media
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Promotion & Awareness Media
Cork City Marathon 2015
Player Recruitment 2015/16
Media Launch - Liverpool Legends 2016
Cork Schoolboys League Inclusion Award 2016
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Media Launch - Liverpool Legends 2016
Promotion & Awareness
Events
Cork City FC, Halftime games in Turners Cross - October 2015
Carrigaline St. Patricks Day parade - March 2016
Sportsability @ UCC - April 2016
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Testimonials “Carrigaline Football For All has been the most inclusive group I have come across. My son has severe autism with severe intellectual disability. He has been asked to leave other disability groups because of his disability being so severe. So I am really grateful that he has been with Carrigaline Football for All for so long. He will never have the mental capacity to fully understand the rules of soccer and doesn’t have the physical ability to play well. But he likes soccer and sports and enjoys being included. He has never been excluded from anything with Carrigaline Football for All. He is invited to blitz’s even though he doesn’t have the capacity to play in a match; he always gets a turn to kick the ball. I think he is the only non-verbal child in the team, he is defiantly the only non-verbal of his age and everybody has been very understanding when learning how to communicate with him by reducing language etc. They have also been very understanding about his behaviours such as running off in the middle of a match or activity’s or his reactions to sensory overload. Being included in this activity has helped him develop his motor skills, social and communication skills and helped him cope better with sensory inputs such noise, fast movements (visual) and cold and rainy weather.” - Parent of FFA Player
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“The Football for All programme at Carrigaline United AFC has changed our son’s life. We struggled to find a suitable outlet for him to pursue his passionate interest in football, since being on the Autism Spectrum makes it very difficult for him to succeed in mainstream/neurotypical teams and their training sessions. When we heard from another parent that Carrigaline United AFC offered training to kids with special needs, we were very eager to try it out. That was almost a year ago and we haven’t looked back since. We couldn’t have imagined that our son would find such a vibrant and dedicated club to be part of - and he does feel part of it thanks to the amazing people who run everything so well and thanks to the amazing team spirit they create, not to mention the excellent facilities available. And, as parents, it is not only gratifying to know that he can fit right in, be active in his favourite sport and learn about being part of a team, it is also an enormous support in helping us to help our son to fulfil his potential. We cannot measure the physical, psychological, emotional and social benefits that the Football for All Programme gives our son and our whole family. We are very proud and very grateful to be able to take part in it.” - Parent of FFA Player
“My son has a diagno syndrome and is very He has no real friend participate in any afte which leads him to be socially isolated. To h Carrigaline Football fo to us his parents and
The fact that he goes Saturday morning pro jersey is huge for us, feel that he belongs t good for him as it get house, it’s social and fresh air and exercise excellent and have a of the children and th work hard at ensurin included and particip that they are comfort organise regulate blit and social events and with team building an effort they put in is h
Carrigaline Football fo important for a lot of needs children as it a that they too can par which I have no doub greatly to their self-e - Parent of FFA Player
osis of Asperger’s y socially disabled. ds and is unable to er school activities, e even more have a group like for All means a lot d to him.
s training every oudly wearing his and it makes him to something. It is ts him out of the he gets plenty of e. The coaches are real understanding heir needs. They ng each child is pates at a level table with. They tz tournaments d these help a lot nd social skills. The hugely appreciated.
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“My daughter, has been participating in the CUFFA programme since 2014 and has thoroughly enjoyed her time learning soccer skills and playing competitive matches. I have been completely bowled over with regard to the supportive attitude and approach taken by the coaches to her and all of the players, it seems that nothing is a problem and the overall atmosphere created is a very positive and happy one. Sport is as much an interest area for children with disabilities as for any children and a well run inclusive sports programme, such as the CUFFA programme, helps enormously to integrate our children into their community in the context of “doing normal things”. My daughter has now developed a greater awareness and curiosity of the bigger picture i.e. looks for match fixtures in the paper, check results on the TV,has her soccer calendar on the wall of her bedroom. In so doing she is more engaged and active in the world which, for a parent of a child with a disability, is ALL that you want for your child. I believe the Carrigaline United soccer club is to be highly commended for the FFA programme and they deserve whatever financial support they seek to maintain the level of benefit to our children that I am happy to testify to. “ - Parent of FFA Player
“Hi guys we wanted to support the application from CUAFC FFA. We work for autism families and children living with autism and we raised money with Artisan donnybrook to purchase equipment for the children. We did this because we believe in what FFA is doing, the encouragement and support to each child in building self-esteem, skills, social challenges , motor skills difficulties and making friends. These are all enormous challenges for our children and for life and the club and gang working with them are doing an amazing job helping the children with all these important things. Every child that walks out on that pitch on sat morning is one more child with autism having an opportunity to excel and be amazing ....that to a parent of child with autism means more than the world and smiles of enjoyment from that child means happiness and inclusion. They are now part of a club a circle of friends that don’t judge them, allow them to be who they are and nurture the talents they have. That to us is important and that’s what inclusion means ...Carrigaline United football Football for all deserve this award because of how they have changed the lives of all these children with special needs and their families.” - Karen O’Mahony, Rainbow Club Masquerade Ball for Autism
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Peil do gach eile duine - Football for All Football For All, Carrigaline United AFC, Ballea Park, Ballea Road, Carrigaline, Co. Cork. Club Tel: 021 437 6991 | FFA Killian: 086 864 5700 | FFA Brian: 086 277 8372 | www.carrigalineunitedafc.com