The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Groups hoping powerchair football scheme attracts new players to sport
‘FOOTBALL FOR FUN’: DUPFC and Tayside Dynamos behind project
Organisers behind a new powerchair football initiative hope the scheme will encourage more people to get involved with the sport.
Tayside Dynamos Powerchair Football Club and Dundee United Para-Football Club (DUPFC), operated by Dundee United Community Trust, have teamed up to create beginners sessions under the name Dundee United Dynamos.
Initial sessions will be free, open to those of any age, gender or ability and will focus on “football for fun”, with players able to use their own chair, or one of the club’s, to develop their skills.
Coaching will be delivered jointly by both organisations.
Garry Johnstone, chairman of Tayside Dynamos, said: “Powerchair football is the only team sport currently played by powerchair users and, as a club, we’ve witnessed firsthand the benefits the game has brought to our current crop of players.
“We now want to extend those benefits to more individuals in the Tayside area. We hope this partnership will provide an entry point into parafootball for power users who previously thought football was perhaps beyond their reach, and would encourage anyone, regardless of their disability, to come along and give the game a try.”
DUPFC already delivers provision for children and adults in Dundee, including amputee football, mental health and wellbeing, and weekly sessions for children with a physical disability.
Jamie Kirk, head of operations for the Community Trust, said: “This will allow us to collectively increase opportunities for powerchair users in the local community to get involved in this wonderful sport.”
Sessions will start on November 2 from 11am to 1pm at Fintry Primary School.