The Leeds United Foundation linked up with club partner AMT earlier this week to run a bespoke training session with members of our Pan-Disability team to continue the club's celebrations for International Day of Persons with Disabilities
To make the event extra special for the youngsters, Lucas Radebe, Ben Parker and Bridie Hannon were all in attendance for the visit at Thorp Arch, and on their arrival at the training ground they were given some adapted equipment to compete with the children. This included a bag of blindfolds and crutches, meaning they could feel first hand what it's like to play the sport they all love with a disability.
Lucas, Ben and Bridie took part in a host of challenges with the young fans throughout the afternoon session, getting involved with running warmups, dribbling drills and one-on-one duels, in a skills school-type challenge using the equipment. After the event, the ambassadors spoke to LUTV.
“I think it's amazing because it's inspirational for us, so inspirational,” the Chief said. “To be able to be there and see the smile on their faces and, you know, the enthusiasm when they're kicking around. It's absolutely great.”
“You see the smiles on their faces. It's so infectious. It really is. And we've had such a great afternoon, haven't we?” Ben added.
Bridie followed up: “We've absolutely loved it. They're just playing football; they absolutely love it. They loved nutmegging us and tackling us and it was so much fun. I could literally do it all over again. It went so quick as well because we just had such a great time. You can tell that they absolutely live and breathe football.
“I want to go train with them tonight. I want to go play games with them on Saturday. I'm not sure we'd make the team! But it's so inspirational, and just to see the smiles, honestly, is what it's all about,” Ben concluded.
This exclusive event came as a result of the club’s five-year-strong partnership with AMT Autos as the club’s Official Vehicle Solutions Partner. Director at AMT Insurance Solutions Stuart Mullin said: “We're absolutely delighted to be part of the Leeds United Foundation. To see the kids out there with the kits, it's just absolutely brilliant. I've even got a kit to take home for my daughter today, which she's going to absolutely love wearing.”
Simon Wood, Head of Health and Wellbeing at the club's official charity also commented on the event, saying: “We're really grateful at the Foundation to have the support from AMT because it allows us to give more opportunities to some of our younger people in Leeds to come and play football.
"Some of the players can't access mainstream football because of some of their impairments and disabilities. So, we're really grateful to AMT to, one, be able to give us the sponsorship to provide a kit but also give us the backing to be able to do more with these players.”
Included in the session were Libby and Sam, who have both recently appeared as mascots for first team matches. Libby was surprised by first-team duo Willy Gnonto and Ao Tanaka with an opportunity to walk out with the team against West Ham United, celebrating her being such an inspiration, and her hard work and progress in the Foundation’s Healthy Holiday camps.
Whilst, Sam walked out recently alongside his favourite player Joe Rodon in the Whites’ brilliant 3-1 win over Chelsea, celebrating his dedication and commitment to the Foundation’s Pan-Disability Under-12s team for International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
For further information around the Leeds United Foundation's disability programmes, please email [email protected].
