The Essex FA is staging Powerchair football events in Chelmsford

Latest news from the Essex FA

PowerChair football is a fun team sport for people with disabilities who use electric or manual wheelchairs, and the Essex FA are inviting newcomers to enjoy sessions currently on offer.

These take place on the second Saturday morning of every month from 10am to 1pm at Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre in Chelmsford.

BBC Children in Need’s funding legacy lives on in Essex through PowerChair football which, for many, is the only truly inclusive active team sport.

It caters for people who use a wheelchair or those who have severe mobility impairments and the local club are looking for new faces to come along and try the fun sessions for free.

There are no age restrictions, and there are six PowerChairs provided for the players, with more in the pipeline.

Players use a larger ball in teams of up to eight players who compete on a standard five-a-side pitch for two 20-minute halves, with four players used at any time.

Tackling is only allowed using bumper contact and, if the ball leaves the pitch, play is restarted.

For newcomers, the sessions include drills to develop familiarisation, skills and match situations, and Essex FA senior football development officer Ian Bent hopes more people get to share the experience with those already taking part.

“This has really taken off in Essex, but we want more people to be in a position to access this opportunity,” he said.

“The challenge we have is that we’re promoting provision that not many people have seen before. Our club is set-up with adapted electric wheelchairs along with attachments for players’ own wheelchairs.

“The sessions are completely free of charge and all the equipment is provided, so we hope to attract more members over the coming months.”

PowerChair was initially launched in Essex in 2010, and interest has continued to grow in since the Association linked-up with Leigh Ramblers FC and Children in Need to provide for a gap in the market.

A £60,000 grant funded the three-year provision to engage PowerChair and manual wheelchair users in sporting activity.

Would you like to get involved? Sessions take place on the second Saturday of every month at the Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre, Victoria Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1FG.

They’re open to all ages, genders and abilities and run from 10am to 1pm.

For further information visit www.essexfa.com or contact Ian Bent on 01245 393094 or email ian.bent@essexfa.com.