It was all smiles at sunny Playball on Saturday as nine clubs contested the inaugural Jordan’s Gift Junior Cup at the Stormont venue.
This five-a-side cup competition is for clubs throughout Northern Ireland catering for players aged 7-14 with a disability.
The competition was split into two age categories, 7-10 and 11-14, and players enjoyed action-packed games in front of a sizeable crowd of excited parents.
In the younger age group, it was Lisburn Rovers Visual Impairment Football Club who took home the trophy with fine performances against Glentoran and Newtownabbey Kickers in the medal games.
Newtownabbey Kickers won the 11-14 section quite comfortably in the end. Their free-flowing attacking football was a pleasure to watch and they deservedly took the trophy back to Newtownabbey.
Irish FA Development Manager for Disability Football, Alan Crooks was keen to praise the competing clubs and the support of Jordan’s Gift.
He said: “I would like to congratulate all competing teams. The senior club game for disability football is developing well with a comprehensive league structure and we are now looking to build opportunities for the younger footballers.
“The games were played in good spirit and it was great to see so many parents cheering on their children. I would also like to thank Jordan’s Gift for their support. This local charity is doing great work creating opportunities for young people with disabilities to engage in sport and the Irish FA Foundation is hopeful that this new relationship will continue to grow.”
Lisburn and Newtownabbey triumph in Jordan’s Gift Junior Cup
