FA Disability Talent Programme
Your England Journey Starts Here
The FA's Disability Talent Strategy 2017-21 aims to reach and develop players with potential from a 'hard to reach group.'
The individual development and progression of these players within a fluid and non-linear pathway is the cornerstone of this strategy. The FA has strategically led the development of disability football in England since 2001, in this time the growth and development of the player pathway has been impressive. Development specifically within grassroots environments has been attributed by the work undertaken locally by County FA's, the Premier League, the English Football League Club Trusts, and Football in the Community Programmes.
Get in touch
Gemma Machin
Equality Officer
Gemma.Machin@StaffordshireFA.com
FA Disability Talent Hub
FA Disability Talent Hubs have been established to deliver engagement sessions for players with Cerebral Palsy, Deaf Players, and Partially Sighted Players. Sessions will enable continued talent identification and will impact younger players previously engaged in Regional Talent Centres. The hubs cater for two separate age bands, 7 - 11 and 12 - 16, and will be used as a 'checkpoint' for these players and will have robust processes to link players to a appropriate mainstream clubs or impairment specific clubs.
FA Talent Hub delivered by Stoke City Community Trust
Staffordshire currently hosts 1 of 13 FA Disability Talent Hubs, which is lead by Stoke City Community Trust working in partnership with Staffordshire FA.
Players are invited to attend 12 Hub sessions throughout the season, where they are provided with further support and development to grow their knowledge and skills. All players engaged within the Talent Hub must play regular football in addition to the Hub session whether this is within a mainstream, ability counts or impairment specific environment.
The hub is directly linked to the next stage of the FA’s England Talent Pathway and players can be referred to the next step (Regional Emerging Talent Programme) at any point.
England Talent Days are held during the year to identify players who may be eligible to join the Talent Hub and the England Talent Pathway, however players can be referred into the programme at any time during the season.
If you wish to gain more information or would like to refer a player to the Talent Programme, please contact our Equality Officer.
