Christies Beach Football Club forms team for new SANFL Inclusive League

Footballers with an intellectual disability will now have a place to play in the southern region with Christies Beach forming a team for the SANFL Inclusive League and some talented players have lent a hand.

Christies Beach Football Club players (left to right) Josh Couch, Alex MacDonald, Josh Clavell, Ben Armstrong and Maison Paterson. The Saints have started an inclusive league team. Picture: Brenton Edwards

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For footballers like Josh Couch, just getting out onto the field is a moment to savour.

Josh has joined Christies Beach this season to play for its first team in the new SANFL Inclusive League for players with an intellectual disability.

Previously, the closest club for those in the southern region unable to play in mainstream competitions was St Mary’s based Kenilworth.

Christies Beach is the only new club to join the league, which begins later this month.

It is essentially a rebadging of the C7 competition run by the Adelaide Footy League and will include existing clubs Kenilworth, Eastern Park, Goodwood and Salisbury.

Josh Couch with Port Adelaide player Tom Clurey at training at Bice Oval. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Port Adelaide players Tom Clurey, Billy Frampton and Joel Garner trained with the Saints’ inclusive side last week, much to the delight of Josh and teammates Alex MacDonald, Josh Clavell, Ben Armstrong and Maison Paterson.

Josh’s father Nhim Couch says having an inclusive league team in the southern area is incredible.

“Josh loves footy but he’s never found anywhere close enough where he’s been able to play competitive footy,” Couch says.

“So for him it mean’s the world and he’s over the moon.

“Footy is his outlet and for him to be able to socialise with other guys like him with similar interests and a love for footy – that’s great.”

Power players Tom Clurey and Billy Frampton give the Saints players a few pointers. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The Saints will play their first match against Kenilworth at Bice Oval on Saturday, May 18.

Christies Beach president Paul Daly is thrilled to put together an inclusive side after trying but falling short of numbers last year.

“It’s something we’ve been looking at and working towards for the past five to six years but couldn’t quite get the numbers together to fill a team,” Daly says.

“Our approach as a club is to try and give as many people the opportunity to play as possible and use footy as a way to improve the community.

“It was a bit of a natural progression for us then because there isn’t a football club in the southern area catering for guys who don’t fit into mainstream footy.”

Christies Beach trains at Bice Oval on Wednesdays at 5pm.

To get involved, contact Christian Thiel on 0448 209 861.

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