News

Disability Football at Alton FC

28 MAR 2025

Alton Football Club is thrilled to introduce Comets – our new pan-disability football sessions for children aged 5-11!

This is football but not as you know it - forget results, stats, and performances. It’s not traditional; it’s where playfulness, inclusivity, and friendships come together.

At Alton FC, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to play football. That’s why we’re also proud to announce Ceirion Port as the club’s new Disability Lead.

Come and meet us!

We're holding two informal "Welcome to Disability Football" sessions in our Clubhouse:

Sunday 1st June - 11am - 12pm

Saturday 21st June - 2pm - 3pm

We'll be joined by Martin Sinclair, ex-England and Great Britain CP football player, Cerebral Palsy Sport Ambassador, and Treloar's School & College Patron.

Martin commented:

"I’m really excited to be involved and support the new pan disability provision at Alton FC. It definitely feels like the beginning of something special. It’s inspiring to see the work being done by a volunteer-led club to make football more inclusive for young players."

Our Comets sessions will be starting soon on a weekday evening in July.

If you're interested in playing, coaching or volunteering, we invite you to one of the above welcome sessions, or register your interest below.

Blast off with Comets!

Comets offers recreational, pan-disability football sessions for disabled children aged 5-11. The programme is focused on helping disabled children have fun, whilst building confidence, independence and social relationships. Comets provides an environment in which participants can feel safe and belong.

Pan-disability is the largest format of disability football, which sees players with a broad range of impairments and health conditions play together.

All sessions are delivered by FA qualified coaches, who have received specific programme training and guidance to provide a safe place for disabled children to try football for the first time and develop key skills.

Meet Ceirion

Having coached a girls team at Alton FC from under 10's through to a hugely successful under 18 squad, Ceirion is a long standing member of the club who has extensive professional experience in teaching students with special educational needs and coaching both girls and disability football.

Ceirion has taught in Foundation Learning at local colleges for the past 15 years where he has set up disability teams to give all students the chance to represent their chosen college.

"I'm passionate about creating a space where everyone can play at their own pace and ability. My goal is to make Alton FC's disability section one of the best in Hampshire" says Ceirion.

Alton FC Chairman, Carl Saunders, commented:

"We've been working on the idea of disability provision for some time, and while we already provide football to over 600 players in the local area, this has been a missing piece. I’m so pleased that we're now ready to offer disabled children the opportunity to play football with Alton FC.

We are very lucky to have Ceirion at our club, and with his wealth of professional experience I have no doubt he will build a legacy for the future!

The launch of Comets reflects our club’s strong sense of community, commitment to improvement, and dedication to inclusivity. We would like to thank Hampshire FA for their support in making this possible."

Ben Mathews, Hampshire FA Disability Football Ambassador, commented:

"We’re excited to be working with Alton FC to help drive forward their new inclusive opportunity. Comets is a programme for young disabled players to develop technically and socially, but more importantly providing an opportunity where they can be themselves and learn to enjoy playing football.

In my role as Disability Football Ambassador for the county, it's fantastic to see a club like Alton FC taking the first step on their inclusive journey."

To register your interest, or find out more about Comets, please contact Ceirion Port:

Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07505 004849
(call, text or WhatsApp)

We are looking for a local business to become Alton FC's "Official Inclusivity Partner". Please email [email protected] for more information.