‘Inspiring to see - the stories are amazing’

Pompey in the Community coach Callum Fowler insists it will be a special moment standing on the St George's Park sidelines watching football history on Sunday.

Fowler, 24, who is head coach of Pompey's amputee team, will take charge of the Blues in the amputee final of the FA Disability Cup.

What already promises to be a landmark occasion has been made even more exciting with BT Sport broadcasting the weekend of FA Disability Cup matches live.

That means Pompey and Posh will be the first sets of players handed the chance to participate in a televised amputee football match ever in England.

For Fowler, who only took charge of the Blues a few months ago, it'll be a great moment for a wider audience to watch the quality on show.

He said: 'It’ll be pretty special, to be fair (head coach for the final).

‘It’s the first time it’s (amputee football) is being televised live in the UK on BT Sport and on the social media pages.

‘Hopefully it can attract quite a new audience, bring it to people's attention a bit more, and then they can get the recognition they deserve because they do deserve it.

‘If you do get a chance to flick it on this Sunday then do it, because you’ll be amazed.

‘It’s a chance for them to represent the football club, represent the community and represent our city and hopefully bring some silverware home.'

By his own admission, Fowler had little to no knowledge of amputee football prior to taking on his role as head coach. But he has been blown away by the standard within the game and the physical and mental strength of players involved.

Fowler added: ‘I didn’t know anything about it, if I’m honest; I’m learning every week but it’s inspiring to see. Some of their stories are amazing and the determination to get up basically off the canvas, come and try something new as well.

'You see them and some of the stuff they do is just mesmerising. I play football myself and they’re 100 times better than me, they’d run rings around us.

‘I’ve played football all my life but these are just a different level.

‘They’re a great group of lads as well. A lot of them have been together for five or six years now, we’ve got a couple of newbies, they welcome new people in the squad no matter what age or ability.'