'Re-shaping perceptions and shifting the narrative'

Elite Para Football at the FA is not just a testament to individual resilience; it is confirmation that disability does not equate to limitation.

By focusing on sporting excellence and competitive spirit, our Para Football Performance Programme continues to reshape perceptions of disability, shifting the narrative from one of sympathy to one of respect and admiration. Ultimately, Para Football is about high-level performance that transcends physical and sensory differences and celebrates the unquestioned appeal of our beautiful game.

Para Football is about the same thing that drives mainstream football: skill and tactical execution, determination, and teamwork. Whether we are discussing powerchair football, blind football, cerebral palsy football, or any of our seven elite squad pathways, the focus is squarely on our players’ ability to adapt and excel in the heat of competition.

Over the last year, we have witnessed fantastic performances from our teams. As an example, our emerging blind players performed brilliantly, as they dominated in games against Japan and the USA at a competition held in San Diego.

Similarly, our Cerebral Palsy squad hit new heights to take world champions Ukraine to penalties in the recent World Championship quarter final. Notable performances have occurred across all other squads in either friendly or competitive international fixtures. The Powerchair squad came the closest to achieving recognition as only the second para team ever to be crowned world champions, losing in the final to a brilliant French team.

The performances of our teams leave no room for pity or tokenism; they are about players proving their abilities on the pitch or futsal court. Those who have watched either in person or online have been captivated not by the challenges players have overcome, but by the sheer talent and passion on display.

As we celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities, I believe that Para Football continues to challenge deeply ingrained stereotypes about disability. Society often paints disabled individuals as dependent, or incapable of physical achievement. our Para Football programme flips this, presenting players as fierce competitors who embody strength, skill, and determination. And rightly so!

Our squads' performances at European and World Championships in the last season, highlight that Para Football is not about 'participation' but about 'winning', just like any other elite sporting programme.

A critical factor in the success of Elite Para Football at the FA is its unwavering emphasis on performance. The newly-launched 'Football without Limits' strategy highlights a clear ambition to win.

Players train consistently, often balancing their sporting careers with professional or academic commitments. Many of our players are at the peak of physical fitness, and their dedication to mastering their craft rivals that of able-bodied players. This focus on performance also pushes the boundaries of what sports science and coaching disciplines can achieve, and again, challenges practice viewed as the norm.

Our performance-centric approach shifts the conversation from what disabled people 'can’t’ do to what they 'can' and often, what they can do better than anyone else. The FA should be truly proud of what the programme is achieving.

I feel it is important to continue to highlight that our Para Football Programme can have a profound impact on how the nation perceives disability.

By showcasing our players on the international stage, it normalises the idea of disabled individuals as powerful, capable, and determined. For many stakeholders, both internally and external to the FA, the experience of watching Para Football can be so important.

The visibility of Para Football, through the brilliant work of our comms team, also inspires disabled and able-bodied individuals alike.

For disabled viewers, especially children, seeing players who share their impairment specific related experiences excel on the international stage can be life-changing. It challenges them to dream bigger and work harder, showing that their ambitions are valid. The fantastic work that we continue to deliver within our Talent Pathway, and the amount of talent young players we are engaging, is testament to this claim.

As the overall Para Football Programme moves from strength to strength, our focus will remain on preparing our Para Teams to win. Beyond this, we know that the wider impact the performances of our players have is truly transformational!