More than 700 players from 77 disability football teams took part in this year’s George Best Community Cup.
Over 400 games were played across four ability bands during the two-day disability football festival staged at the Billy Neill complex in Dundonald.
Clubs from throughout the UK and Ireland took part in the annual five-a-side tournament, which is run by the Irish FA Foundation and supported by the George Best Foundation, Cash for Kids and Mary Peters Trust.
Staff from the Irish FA Foundation alongside a small army of volunteers organised the matches across 14 pitches at the Dundonald venue.
Cornwall-based Kernow Football Alliance were the big winners at the tournament as they won both the Ability 1 and Ability 2 titles.
However, two teams closer to home also tasted glory. Hillsborough Boys were triumphant in the Ability 3 competition, while Belfast side St James’ Swifts D were the champions at Ability 4 level.
Tournament organiser and Irish FA Foundation Disability Football Development Manager Alan Crooks said the annual event had once again been a great success.
He thanked the George Best Foundation, Mary Peters Trust and Cash for Kids for their ongoing support for the annual disability football festival. And he also thanked Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council for its continued support for the tournament and PwC for providing volunteers at the event.
Crooks added: “It was great to see so many players of all ability levels getting the opportunity to play competitive football. A big well done to all the players, coaches and volunteers who made the 2023 George Best Community Cup such a memorable event.”
George Best Community Cup 2023 Results:
Ability 4
1st – St James’ Swifts D
2nd – Charlton Valiants (London)
3rd – Charlton Upbeats (London)
Ability 3
1st – Hillsborough Boys
2nd – Blantyre (Scotland)
3rd – St James’ Swifts C
Ability 2
1st – Kernow (Cornwall)
2nd – Cumann Spoirt an Phobail
3rd – UTD Warriors (ROI)
Ability 1
1st – Kernow (Cornwall)
2nd – Glentoran
3rd – Sutton United (South London)
