Over 5 years ago The FA launched Ability Counts, to give people with all disabilities and impairments the chance to play football.

The majority of Football in the Community departments across the country signed up and starting providing coaching sessions. Bolton Wanderers Football in the Community started this with a Wednesday evening session at Smithills Sports Centre, and following the success a second session was added on a Friday night. When the Manchester FA started the Greater Manchester Ability Counts Football League, Football in the Community jumped at the chance of entering an under 16 team and has done every year since.

Football in the Community then entered an Open Age team into the North West Ability Counts Football League. Football in the Community continued with the evening coaching sessions and branched out into delivering football sessions at schools for children with disabilities, or schools with departments for children with disabilities.

Following this success it was decided by the Football in the Community Disability Officer that a disability football club should be formed and become a branch of Football in the Community. This was done 3 years ago and was named Bolton Wanderers Disability Football Club. Since then Football in the Community has continued to run BWDFC.

Most recently, Bolton Wanderers Disability Football Club has been awarded The FA Charter Standard Club mark. The FA Charter Standard award is given to clubs who have shown to the Football Association that they meet certain criteria eg coaches must have a FA CRB Disclosure, First Aid Qualification, and most importantly relevant Football Coaching Qualifications.

A football club getting a Charter Standard Mark isn't rare; however, there are few football clubs that are specifically run for people with all kinds of disabilities and impairments. We are the first Disability Football Club in the North West and fifth Nationwide to attain the FA Charter Standard Club mark. This just proves that Bolton Wanderers Football in the Community and Bolton Wanderers Football Club are constantly striving to give all their supporters and everyone in the area the opportunities to play football.

If you would like to know more about the Disability Football sessions, or would like Disability Football Coaching at your school, please contact Steve Obertelli on 01204 480601.