By Alex Wallace
DISABLED footballers in West Wales are thriving thanks to a new initiative by Llanelli Town AFC.
The Cymru South club have started running weekly pan-disability training sessions, with the interest and participation already beginning to snowball.
Jordan Fox, who works for the Reds, has spent a large amount of time working on his own coaching skills to be able to take the reins of the club’s new setup.
Jordan, who suffers from epilepsy, decided to establish the disability football sessions after spending a number of years not being able to play the sport he loves.
“After being out of football for about seven years due to epilepsy and multiple shoulder dislocations, I was always too eager to get back into the sport so I thought I’d go down the coaching route,” he explained.
Jordan’s son Rory was born with right-sided hemi-cerebral palsy which he explains is a huge reason as to why he wanted to become the founder of the initiative at the club.
“My son Rory was already a massive football fan at the age of 2 this will provide a football pathway for him and many others in our town,” added Jordan.
The club have been running the disability sessions for a number of weeks already, seeing encouraging attendance indicating a set-up of its kind was needed in the community.
“I would say it has been a success but we have a long way to go,” said Jordan.
“So many more different age groups want to come and get involved so we will need to plan our future and recruit more coaches.
“The players have already grown so much in confidence and their football ability will surprise many so we can’t wait to be able to show that off.”
It’s not just Jordan who has been working to make the disability football a success. Club chairman Wayne Stephens and head of Reds community hub and assistant head coach of Llanelli Town academy Simon Thomas, have also been working alongside Jordan to ensure the new project is a success.
“The club has been very supportive since I joined. Wayne Stephens our chairman is always on the other end of the phone as well as Simon Thomas who has assisted me with the coaching.” he said.
“I would also like to thank Coleshill Day Center staff for supporting me with the project as well as Richard Keenan and Llanelli Wanderers RFC for letting us use their facilities for free.”
“I think disability sport is vital for physical needs as well as mental well being. It’s been a tough 2 years for everyone. It’s good to see everyone out and enjoying themselves again,” said Jordan.
“There’s not a lot of things in the Llanelli area to do especially for those with a disability. Gwil and Llanelli Wanderers have had outstanding success, if I can replicate that in football then I’ll be extremely proud.”
Jordan hopes that the setup of the initiative will encourage more clubs across the FAW Pyramid to follow the Reds and establish vital inclusion in the sport.
He said: “I think there’s many organisations wanting to improve the sport for disabled sports but we need more people to volunteer, it’s as simple as that.”
Llanelli Town hold their pan-disability football sessions every Friday 3-4pm at Llanelli Leisure Centre.