By Sean Lawrenson, Co-Deputy Sports Editor
Football has always been more than a sport. It is a way of bringing people together, regardless of class, colour, skill or ability. The Robins Foundation are trying to break down barriers that prevent disabled people from playing football. They foster an environment that prioritises enjoyment through competition because, above all, football should be enjoyed.
Sadly, it will come to no one’s surprise that some of the players in this initiative have previously experienced abuse when playing in competitive teams before. Speaking to one of the player’s carers, they said ‘he’d get picked on a lot, but this place doesn’t have any of that.’ The same sentiment was echoed by Harry’s social carer, who said that some of his previous coaches haven’t known how to include him, and cater to his specific needs. This isn’t a problem that stops at the grassroots level. Research carried out by the charity Scope found that 8 in 10 disabled fans experienced abuse whilst watching football games, with 62% saying it put them off going back to watch live football. At the Robins Foundation, inclusion is paramount, with some of the players even getting the opportunity to go into a box to watch the Robins play.
'Once a year, they usually get the players onto the pitch [at Ashton Gate Stadium], and they have a match between all the different groups,' I was told by one of the carers. The ability to go out on the pitch for a team many have spent their entire lives supporting is a fantastic aspect of the scheme.
A Kick-It-Out report found that in the 2023-24 season, there had been a rise in anti-disability insults and language by 35%. That number is stark, and indicative of the work that still needs to be done to ensure football is a sport that can be enjoyed by everyone. As I watched on at the Imperial Sports Ground, it seemed to me that the coaches had got the balance between relaxed and competitive right.
‘We know that everyone’s an individual, and so you’ve got to adapt to the needs of each player,’ said Kyle, one of The Robins Foundations full-time staff. The adaptation to each individual is in their eyes critical to getting the most out of the sessions for everyone involved. As I was speaking to the staff and the carers, they all echoed the same sentiment, that their respect and admiration for Gary Bell was through the roof.
When I first arrived at the session, I saw Gary getting involved in the match, and the work that he has put into the scheme deserves immense recognition. ‘When we first started running these sessions, we’d get four, maybe five players turn up. Now, we’re getting twenty, thirty a week.’ The progression of the sessions has been almost entirely through word of mouth, with more new players turning up each week. He spoke of one occasion in which a player hadn't realised that the sessions were run for disabled people, and wanted to get involved:
‘I had to tell him what the sessions were about, and who they were for. He said sorry, and that he hadn’t realised that the sessions were for disabled people. The players loved that; it was just a regular kick-about to people walking past.’
That the player had no idea any of the players were disabled is telling. ‘Most of the players’ disabilities aren’t visible,’ Gary told me, and given the intensity of the sessions and the quality some of the players had, it’s hardly surprising. A government report found that in the UK between 70-80 percent of disabilities were invisible, with physical disabilities only making up a small proportion comparatively. I was particularly struck by one player called John, who was deaf, and yet still fully included in the matches.
The Robins Foundations initiative is a great first step, and I am sure they are aware of how much work remains to be done in the disability field. Despite this, what I saw last Tuesday was a wonderful display of inclusivity, competitiveness, and fun. These sessions are a guiding light for disability football in Bristol, and the passion the players, staff and families have for the scheme is incredibly admirable.
Featured image: Bristol City FC
