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For nearly 10-years, Cambridge City Football Club has been working with people with disabilities as part of the clubs successful ParAbility setup.
This season has been no exception, with the teams being crowned champions following a long and arduous season lasting 24-months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent tournament has seen the City A and B teams score 150 goals, with A Team striker Brandon Butler bagging 30 goals, a tremendous achievement.
The Lilywhite’s ParAbility teams were first formed in 2013 from a Cambridge City team run as part of the Cambridgeshire Football Association. Funding from the club’s Supporters Trust enabled the teams to flourish under the stewardship of City stalwart Sid Cullum and his daughter Ellie. The clubs are now run by Stuart Nunn who, along with this role, is a Supporters Trust board member.
City’s players have a mix of disabilities or additional needs including autism, ADHD, learning difficulties and epilepsy, with football being a great way for them to release energy and relax. Day-to-day they are either at college, working or unable to work due to their conditions. They train at the North Cambridge Academy and take part in regular tournaments forming a ParAbility league in partnership with the Cambridgeshire County League, with teams from across the county taking part.
However, it is not just on the pitch where the team have success. Members of the squad have found long-term employment, moved into their own accommodation and have even become social media stars on social media platform TikTok where they regularly post videos about their football experiences and daily lives.
ParAbility Manager, Stuart Nunn, said; “The ParAbility players love their football which has given them hope during the challenging times we have all faced over the past couple of years. The players have enjoyed being guests of the first team at games, meeting the players and being introduced to City supporters on the pitch.”
“With the club moving to Sawston we will continue to train at the North Cambridge Academy as the majority of our players are based in that area and do not drive. But we look forward to hosting our own tournaments and friendlies at the new stadium. We would like to thank Pocock and Shaw, The Cambridge Building Society and Cambridge City Supporters Trust for their sponsorship and support.”
City Chairman, Kevin Satchell, added; “It has been fantastic following the results and achievements of the ParAbility team during a very long season. Along with our men’s first team, ladies, youth, girls and boys teams, the ParAbility team are part of the Cambridge City family and we look forward to hosting tournaments at our new home.”
ParAbility Football aims to showcase the variety of footballing opportunities available to disabled people across the county, for more information visit www.cambridgeshirefa.com. If you would like to learn more about the ParAbility teams at Cambridge City or if you feel you could support our teams as a player, coach or club official, please contact Stuart Nunn on 07743 726926 or stuart.nunn@btconnect.com.