A PROJECT to bring more footballing opportunities to disabled players was given a £96,000 boost last week when Charlton's new disabled programme was launched at the club's Sparrows Lane training ground.

From the New Year, Charlton's community scheme will become the first club in the country to employ a full-time officer to co-ordinate its disabled activities.

The project's long-term aim will be to establish a pioneering centre of excellence to give elite players like England under-18 disabled star Alan Beeson the chance to join national squads and emulate the progress of the Addicks other internationals, like left-back Chris Powell.

Charlton community scheme project manager Jason Morgan said: "Over the past 18 months, we have built up a number of links with local authorities and schools under the Ability Counts programme.

"This new funding will enable us to take our plans to the next step, which is more than any other club has ever done. We want to provide as many playing opportunities for disabled footballers as possible."

The funding, £83,000 from the Football Foundation and the rest from Premiership sponsors Barclaycard, who are also providing equipment, will enable Charlton to offer coaching sessions to the disabled.

Barclaycard's Nic Gault said: "It is essential that time, money and effort is directed into clubs' disability and educational projects to make football as inclusive as possible. Our donation to Charlton will enable them to develop the exceptional work they are already doing."

The Foundation's chief executive Peter Lee said: "For too long the disabled have faced barriers from participating in our national game. I congratulate Charlton for developing access to football for London's disabled community."

Under the club's Ability Counts scheme, an under-16 disabled team finished third in the One 2 One national disabled event earlier this year, and the club also organised the first inter-school disabled tournament across south-east London.

But the club's biggest success was 16-year-old Alan Beeson, from Gravesend, who has a learning disability but represented his country against Poland in a European Championship qualifier last May.

December 18, 2001 13:10