Jordan’s boost for Rio dreams
ONE of Britain’s highest hopes for Paralympic football success has received a £1,000 SportsAid award courtesy of the Manchester235 casino.
Jordan Raynes, aged 25, who has Cerebral Palsy, started out playing football in Newall Green High School.
He joined the Manchester City Disability Scheme at the age of 14, where he was put forward to represent England, and he currently captains the North West Cerebral Palsy Centre of Excellence team, where he plays in goal.
To date, Jordan has represented England in two World Championships, three European Games and one Paralympic Games.
But a recent severe shoulder injury has put Jordan’s vigorous training programme on hold, introducing huge new pressures as he pursues his dream of representing England in Rio 2016.
Whilst a grant from the Football Association supports Jordan’s base competing expenses, he has been desperately seeking private funding in a bid to source specialist one-toone training that will provide the bespoke guidance and motivation he needs to reach his peak performance level.
He believes that the support from Manchester235 casino could not have come at a better time.
Jordan said: “I am so very grateful to Manchester235 for their incredibly generous donation which will allow me to pursue my dream of representing England at the Rio Paralympic games.
“Committing to sport at a high level, at a young age, can be a real challenge and having the funding to source specialist one-to-one training will enable me to be the best I can be both mentally and physically.”
Inspired by his professional football playing father and brother (exStockport County and current Carlisle United star Michael Raynes), Jordan has always wanted to follow in their footsteps.
“I always wanted to be a professional football player, but assumed that my Cerebral Palsy would prevent that from happening,” he said.
“Since discovering that I could follow my dreams playing disability football, I really have given the sport my all. This award will empower me to push myself to the extreme.”
Jordan currently works at Stockport County FC Community Foundation as a disability coach, where he supports other young disability footballers to pursue their dreams from a grass roots level.
“It’s amazing to be able to share some of my knowledge and experience with other youngsters who share the same fears and dreams that I did when I was their age,” he said.
“It’s a really nice feeling to be able to give something back to my local community.
“I’m so grateful to the Foundation, who have been extremely understanding about my train- ing pressures and responsibilities.”
The donation is part of Manchester235’s ongoing commitment to SportsAid, a charity that helps young sports people overcome the financial challenges they face in their bid to become Britain’s next generation of sporting heroes.
These athletes are typically aged 12 to 18 and are among our brightest hopes for future Olympic and Paralympic success.
Austin Graham, Venue Director at Manchester235 said: “It is incredibly rewarding to be able to praise a local sportsman’s tough efforts in the form of funding.
“Jordan is clearly a very talented young football player and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to help him pursue his passion.
“We take great pride in our charity work, especially when it comes to supporting our local community”
Chief executive of SportsAid Tim Lawler said: “The donation from Manchester235 is set to help Jordan train harder and more effectively so he can put all his efforts into getting the results he needs to realise his potential.
“It provides the right help and recognition at the right time, enabling SportsAid’s donors to see the impact of their support through the hard work and progress of these young athletes. Caesars Entertainment UK has been amazing, enabling us to provide thousands of pounds worth of donations to support young athletes all over the UK.”
Since 1976, SportsAid has helped many of nation’s most successful sportsmen and women. Some of the best known former SportsAid recipients are Sir Chris Hoy, David Weir CBE, Mo Farah CBE, Dame Sarah Storey, Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE, Ellie Simmonds OBE, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, Sir Ben Ainslie, Jonnie Peacock MBE, Tom Daley, Ade Adepitan MBE and Sir Steve Redgrave.
The charity’s patron is Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.