Disability Football
Four pitches were used as 300 people descended on Pontefract for the Special Olympics preparation event
There was over 300 people inside Pontefract Collieries for the Special Olympics Yorkshire and Humberside Super Regional 7-a-side Football Competition on Sunday.
The event was also used for grading purposes ahead of the Special Olympics GB National Games which is taking place in Sheffield in early August.
Pontefract Pirates, the sister club of the Collieries which caters for people with disabilities and learning difficulties, have nine players competing at the major event in August.
Every single player did exceptionally well in unbearable hot conditions.
Non League Yorkshire’s James Grayson, plus Worsbrough Bridge pair Connor and Calan Rollinson also helped out on Sunday as tournament referees, officiating ten games each. James and Connor are also the lead coaches for the Pontefract Pirates.
The Men in Black: Non League Yorkshire’s James Grayson (centre) was a tournament referee, along with Worsbrough’s Connor (left) and Calan (right) Rollinson
Players waiting for their medals
A break for a few of the players as play goes on in the background
*The Special Olympics Great Britain’s National Summer Games is the country’s largest multi-sports event for athletes with intellectual disabilities of 2017.
Around 2,600 athletes with intellectual disabilities of all ages and abilities will come together from across the country. They will be supported over four days of competition by 800 coaches, 750 volunteers, 150 officials and over 5,000 family & friends.
It is held every 4 years and represents a huge opportunity to showcase the abilities of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to compete at a national level, experience the personal achievement this brings, as well as enable them to make friends, travel and socialise.
The 10th National Summer Games will take place in the city of Sheffield across a number of sporting venues between 7-12 August 2017.