2013-14 Inclusive Football Season kicks off with host Club Leicester City Ladies & Woodgate F.C.

Saturday 21st September saw Leicester City Ladies Football Club & Leicester City Woodgate FC organise the first event of the season for the Leicestershire and Rutland Inclusive (Disability) Football League (an FA Charter Standard and Respect League) at Aylestone Recreation Ground (ARG), Artificial Turf Pitch.

21 teams from Oadby and Wigston, Ibstock Utd, AFC Barwell, Aylestone Park, Allexton and New Parks, Leicester City Ladies (Leicester City Woodgate FC), Market Harborough (Harborough Alliance), Birstall Utd and Asfordby Amateurs L&G Inclusive, all competed in the day long festival.
The event was supervised by Mary Rudkin and a group of volunteers, Paul Gibson, Manjit Takhar, Thomas Smith, Erica Preston, Paul Rudkin, Annie Rudkin and Helen Rudkin, were given explicit instructions to make the day a success and what a great success it was.
In total, over the juniors, Youth and Adults teams, 21 teams attended from 9 Clubs, played 51 games with 142 players of all abilities taking part, a large crowd to cheer them all on and fine dry weather to make the day a great experience for all.
Added to the football were the antics of Donna the Allexton and New Parks FC coach, if we could bottle her enthusiasm and commitment we would make a fortune.

Ian Smith the Aylestone Park Inclusive Football coordinator who has been in this role with the club over 10 years, was this year made a Life Member and said, "It is always a great way to spend a day meeting friends, not opponents, and making sure all the players enjoy the whole experience. This is really the key element,it is not the winning but the taking part".

Mary Rudkin added "Great Facilities, great attitudes, great commitment and lots of enjoyment making a great success for players, parents and carers" .

Paul Gibson started Leicester City Woodgate alongside Mary Rudkin in May 2007, both as volunteers. Paul is retiring from full time employment with the FA Tesco Skills Coach team in the next two weeks after years of service. Paul has been a volunteer within grassroots and disability football for over 30 years and will continue with this role.
Bob Stretton Leicester City Football Strategy Manager said, "It is always a pleasure coming along to the Inclusive (Disability) competitions and seeing the amount of enjoyment everyone has, I coached with the APFC Inclusive section 10 years ago and some of the players are still playing and some have gone onto other things such as refereeing, but the important thing is they are still involved in and still enjoying football, and that’s what this investment in all the new facilities is all about".

Philippa Bass the newly appointed Disability Football Development Officer at Leicestershire and Rutland Count FA, said "this is my first experience of a Disability festival in Leicester and I must say I am very impressed, the day has gone like clockwork and everyone has worked so hard to make it such a success. The support has been brilliant".

A word of thanks for the co operation given by members of AFC Andrews who use this site every Saturday for training and who happily gave up this Saturdays occupation of the ATP so that the event could be staged and again to Kerry and Kay the catering managers for their continuous supply of refreshment over the 5 hours of Football.
If you are interested in getting into Inclusive (Disability) Football as a player, coach, referee or volunteer, please contact:
Mary Rudkin
Leicestershire & Rutland Inclusive Football League - General Secretary
0116 2827555
maryrudkin24_@hotmail.com