On Sunday 10th September 2023, Fulham FC Foundation will host a Deaf Football Celebration Day at Fulham FC's Training Ground in celebration of Andrew Kenward’s Life and service to the Fulham Deaf Football Club.
The day starts at 10am with a two hour fun, engaging football session for young people who are deaf and have different levels and types of hearing loss, aged 5 to 16 years. Whether this be for a first time footballer, or someone with some experience, this session is open to all. CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults) are also welcome to attend this session.
From 10.15am, parents, guardians and carers are invited to take part in Movember's ground-breaking Ahead of the Game programme centred. The workshop is one hour long, led by trained and experienced Fulham FC Foundation mental wellbeing facilitators.
Ahead of the Game uses sport to teach young people, parents, and coaches how to talk about mental health. The programme reviews how to recognise mental health issues, what to do and when to get help. Research shows that 50% of mental health problems are established by the age of 14, and 75% by the age of 24.
BSL interpreters will be available to support the communication during the day.
Following the morning sessions we will be holding an Adult Deaf Football 11-a-side friendly on the same pitch in celebration of Andrew Kenward’s life and service to the Fulham Deaf Football Club.
Andrew was a well known and loved member of the club and we are proud to host The Andrew Kenward Cup; with Andrew's former teammates, friends and family making up the squads.
The Andrew Kenward Cup will kick off at 1pm. All young people who sign up for the morning session will receive two tickets to watch the game, one for them and one for a parent/carer.
“We are really pleased to be able to host this Deaf Football Day in Celebration of Andrew Kenward’s life and service to his beloved Fulham. Andrew enjoyed being a part of Fulham Deaf Football Club for many years. He had a lovely beaming smile and always made everyone around him feel part of the team, and would always support younger players coming up through the team, with his experiences starting with Fulham Deaf Football Club at a young age. This is a big part of why we are proud to run a day like this, to encourage young deaf players to come and give football a go through Fulham FC Foundation.” - Katy Shephard, DisAbility Development Manager, Fulham FC Foundation
There is also a donation page running alongside the event to raise funds in Andrew's name. As Fulham Football Club was such a big part of Andrew's life, his family have requested that all the money raised from the day goes towards DisAbility Activities at the Foundation; enabling us to give more children and young people who are deaf or disabled the chance to play football in a safe and inclusive environment.
To book your place on the Junior Deaf Football Session or the workshop click below:
For more information email disability@fulhamfc.com
