Exeter City team looking for local host pitch for FA Disability Cup
Exeter City’s Ability Counts team are looking for a local venue to host their first ever FA Disability Cup fixture on Sunday 24th February.
The Grecians’ representatives are one of just 16 teams to have been elected to feature in the inaugural FA Disability Cup this season, and have drawn at home against AFC Bournemouth in the first round of the competition.
Currently, the game has been scheduled be held at Liverton United’s ground, just outside of Newton Abbot. However, during the coming days, the club are hoping to find a venue more locally to Exeter city centre to host their historic first fixture. A new venue would need to be finalised and confirmed at least 10 days before the date of the match.
The Ability Counts project is entirely self-funded through player registrations, subs and donations, so having a more local host pitch would be very welcomed for the sake of costs and convenience.
The final of the competition will be held at St George’s Park in Burton – the new purpose-built venue in Burton upon Trent. The Ability Counts team are joined amongst the entrants of the 16-team tournament by Exeter Deaf Academy.
Paul Clements, who manages the Ability Counts team, said: “We’re hugely honoured to be taking part in the first ever FA Disability Cup. We’re hugely grateful for the offer to play at Liverton, but we’re still on the look-out for somewhere more local if at all possible.
“It would be really useful if a local club could offer to make their pitch available to us to fulfil the fixture. It’s a significant piece of history for our club to be playing in this competition so we’re exploring all the options we have. But whether it’s held at Liverton or elsewhere, we’d really love to have some support at the game and, in particular, from people that want to get involved with Ability Counts.”
The team are constantly on the lookout for new players of all standards and welcomes players with all disabilities. The team is sub-divided into four ability levels to fulfil fixtures, and they train on Mondays between 2pm-3.30pm at King George V Playing Fields, with players paying £3 per session.
If you, or someone you know, is interested in getting involved in the Ability Counts team, or if you think you can help by providing a venue for the FA Disability Cup match on 24th February, please contact Paul Clements on paul.clements@exetercityfc.co.uk / 07792 910 802.