Bristol City Cerebral Palsy Football Club are flying high after prestigious award and international football tournament success

By Ellise Hollie Hayward, Disabilities Correspondent, Jill Dando News

Bristol City Cerebral Palsy Football Club are celebrating their huge success after recently returning home from Copenhagen where they participated in the Cerebral Palsy International Football Festival.   

The Festival was attended by clubs from Denmark, Norway and Ireland; and Bristol City Cerebral Palsy FC were selected to represent England, with the FA supplying them with England shirts for the event.

The team had a great tournament, with the seniors team returning home having won all of their games.

“We were able to take a senior and a junior squad to Copenhagen, and everyone played their hearts out. It was fantastic to see them competing on an international stage – we are extremely proud of all our players,’ said Nick Bunyard, Head Coach.

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“It was wonderful to see so many children with cerebral palsy come together to celebrate their passion for football and have the opportunity to play in an international tournament,” said Matt McKay, Assistant Coach.

Off the pitch, the club has been celebrating a prestigious award for Bob Young, its founder and coach. Bob was named the FA’s National Coach of the Year – Disability Pathway at a ceremony during the Community Shield fixture at Wembley Stadium.  Since he established the club a few years ago, it has grown from 6 players to over 35 and has become a place for children with cerebral palsy to play football and make friends.

Bob said, ‘it’s amazing to receive this award and I am truly humbled – but although it has come to me, it really is an award for absolutely everyone. The families are just incredible and everyone works so hard.”

Bob initially established the club for his son Casey to have the opportunity to play football with children with similar challenges. “Casey loves football but was playing in a mainstream club; he could not get close to the ball because he was playing with children that did not have a disability.

“I wanted to establish a club for children with cerebral palsy so everyone had the opportunity to play on a level playing field. Since then I have found the community aspect of the club is vital for both parents and players” he explained. 

Training is at the Imperial Sports Ground in Bristol every Saturday, which is attended by more than thirty families. It is continuing to grow, and several players are now on the England Talent Pathway.

The Club’s ambition is to build on this success, and it plans to host the International Cerebral Palsy Football Festival in Bristol next summer.  All families are working hard to raise funds and secure sponsorship for the event, which will benefit children not just from the Bristol area, but from across Europe too.

For more information on Bristol City Cerebral Palsy FC, please visit www.bccpfootball.co.uk

Cerebral palsy is caused when an injury is suffered to, or a problem occurs in the development of, a baby’s brain before, during or soon after they are born. It affects how the brain controls movement and muscles. It is the most common motor disease in the world amongst children

Globally, 17 million people have cerebral palsy and 1 in 400 people in the UK. No two people are affected in the same way

Cerebral Palsy Football (CP Football) is for people with cerebral palsy, or an acquired brain injury. It is played on smaller pitches, with smaller goals and a shorter playing time. It is an international sport.