Hundreds head for Glasgow to compete in National Football Championship for people with learning difficulties

Monday 10 September 2001

More than 250 men and women, representing Scottish Disability Sport branches throughout the country, are set to compete in the Royal Mail National 5-A-Side Football Championships at Fleshershaugh football facility, Glasgow Green on Wednesday 12 September. 

"Football is one of our key target sports..."

The event will start at 10.30am and finish with a winner's medal presentation ceremony at approximately 3pm.

The Royal Mail National 5-A-Side Football Championships is a key element within the wider Royal Mail Ready Willing & Able for Sport programme, aiming to promote and develop sporting opportunities for people with a disability throughout Scotland.  The programme is sponsored by Royal Mail and delivered by Scottish Disability Sport, in partnership with sportscotland.

The tournament has three levels of competition: Under 16 Boys (12 teams), Ladies (3 teams), Senior Men (18 teams).  The following Scottish Disability Sport branches will be represented by teams on the day: Glasgow, Aberdeen, Lothian, Highland, Perth & Kinross, Forth Valley, Dundee, Angus, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire. 

Scottish Disability Sport, in partnership with sportscotland and Glasgow City Council, are co-ordinating the event, which represents the culmination of numerous local regional qualifying tournaments throughout Scotland. 

Gavin Macleod, Royal Mail Ready Willing & Able for Sport Programme Co-ordinator, said, "Football is one of our key target sports.  The huge number of entries into the regional 5-A-Side qualifying tournaments, and the standard of play from the teams that have made it through to the national finals, demonstrates the enthusiasm and enjoyment people with a disability can get from sport - let's hope they get the good weather they deserve!"  

• Scottish Disability Sport is the governing and co-ordinating body for the development of sport for people with a disability in Scotland.
• Royal Mail have invested more than £30,000 in the Royal Mail Ready Willing & Able for Sport programme 2001/02.
• Royal Mail Ready Willing & Able for Sport programme was recently recognised as on of the best sponsorships of Scottish sport at the Inaugural sportscotland Sponsorship Awards, winning the category for sponsorship under £50,000 per annum