Fulham FC Foundation are delighted to announce the launch of a Para Talent Hub in partnership with the FA from May 2021.
The aim of the Para Talent Hub is to provide a clear player pathway into the England Para Football Squads and FA Para Football Talent Pathway. The Para Talent Hub is designed for both males and females aged 7 to 16 years, with cerebral palsy, visual or hearing impairments who have the ambition to play for their country.
The England Para Talent Pathway aims to find players who may also be ‘hidden’ in mainstream clubs, whose impairments may not be immediately obvious.
Players in the Para Talent Hub programme will stay with their club and continue to play for their teams, as this is often the best format for a player’s continued development, while Para Talent Hub sessions will focus on each players’ individual development, in line with the FA Technical Framework, and complement players’ existing training schedules with their current clubs. In this environment Fulham FC Foundation hope to help individuals progress to the next phase of the elite talent pathway; the Regional Emerging Talent Programme.
Katy Shephard, Fulham FC Foundation DisAbility Development Officer, said this announcement was a significant boost for ambitious footballers in our local area: “We are proud to be working with the FA to deliver the Fulham FC Foundation Para Talent Hub. Within our existing DisAbility Programmes we aim to provide all players with a disability the opportunity to train and play in an environment best suited to their needs.
“The launch of this Para Talent Hub will further support players with Cerebral Palsy, Visual and Hearing Impairments, giving them additional opportunities to play, develop and showcase their talent. We are all looking forward to getting the Para Talent Hub sessions up and running, and working with players who have the potential to represent their country!”
Lauren Asquith, The FA’s Para Football Talent ID Lead, welcomed Fulham FC Foundation’s news: “We’re delighted that Fulham FC Foundation have joined our Para Football Talent Pathway network, delivering one of 15 Hubs across the country. It’s a fantastic opportunity for young players with potential to access alongside a regular playing opportunity. The Para Talent Hubs are the second step of our Talent Pathway and play a huge role in identifying players who could potentially one day represent one of our England Para Squads.”
If this is you, or someone you know, then all you need to do is fill in the registration of interest form at the link below with your/their contact details and the Para Football team will be in touch with the next steps. Trials for the new Para Talent Hub will be held during May 2021.
