Disabled football players disinvited from gala day over split with Football NSW

A Hills program for players with intellectual disabilities has been disinvited to a Football NSW gala day.

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A HILLS program for players with intellectual disabilities has been disinvited to a Football NSW gala day.

The Hills Knights FC’s Kickaroos, made up of about 40 players with intellectual disabilities aged 8-16, have participated in the Football NSW’s Football4All Gala Day for the past few years.

But after receiving an initial­ invitation from Football NSW in October, the club’s president was told last week that the Kickaroos would be unable to attend because the Knights (formerly known as St Michael’s) joined the unsanctioned Sydney Hills Football Association for the 2016 season.

Football NSW said because the club had left an affliated association, it could no longer be part of Football NSW programs.

Hills Knights FC president Jay Marshall said the club sent a letter last year to Football NSW indicating their decision to affiliate with SHFA, before they received the invitation to the gala day.

Mr Marshall accepted the invitation but was told via email last week that Football NSW would be “unable to endorse” the club’s participation in the June gala day given its decision to “participate in competitions outside the Football Family in 2016”.

The email also stated the Kickaroos would be “unable to participate in any sanctioned friendly, trial, competition, gala day or special event facilitated by Football NSW or its members which includes other Football4All programs”.

Mr Marshall said he was “really surprised” and “really­ upset” to have the invitation rescinded.

“This program is about football for all,” he said.

“It’s about participation, it’s not about politics or what association you’re part of.

“It’s about giving these guys a wonderful experience.”

Knights president Jay Marshall, William Thoms, 5, and Dyllan Wonfor, 17.

Mr Marshall said programs like the gala day provided Kickaroos players with a “huge social and physical benefit”.

“It’s actually a disgrace to have these guys disadvantaged, people that are already­ having a challenging set of circumstances,” he said.

The gala day consists of a round-robin style competition between all abilities teams from clubs across the state.

“The opportunity to play teams that they don’t usually play in other areas is a huge opportunity for them,” Mr Marshall said.

“When they get the opportunity to play in round robins they really enjoy it.”

Mr Marshall said there was “no room for this sort of politics or regulation when it comes to these kids”.

“We should be doing everything in our power to help these kids enjoy the sport without boundaries or rules or regulations,” he said.

Mr Marshall said the Knights would hold their own gala day with other local clubs instead.

“Last year we participated in the Football4All Gala Day and we also held a gala day at Bella Vista Oval with clubs from North Rocks, Kellyville and other Sydney clubs who have all abilities programs,” he said.

“So we’ll explore options of doing an in house gala day like we did last year.”

Sydney Hills Football Association­ president Craig Gough was one of the people who set up the Kickaroos program six years ago.

His son Will, who is now 15, has played for the Kickaroos since its inception.

Mr Gough said he was “very proud” of the program and it was “disappointing” that Football NSW had “chosen to penalise the all ability kids over an issue that most all ability kids are unlikely to even understand”.

“All they want is to go out and having a day of fun,” he said.

Mr Gough said Football NSW’s actions were upsetting “particularly given that they had already sent the Knights out the invitation”.

“It shows the depths of which they’re willing to go to stop an organisation that is just trying to do the best for its community and is so keen to be part of Football NSW,” he said.

Mr Gough said the Sydney Hills Football Association wanted to be sanctioned by Football NSW, but in the meantime it would begin its own program under a newly appointed all abilities co-ordinator.

“We’ll make sure the kids don’t miss out,” Mr Gough said.

The Kickaroos program includes weekly skills training and game.

In a statement, Football NSW said it was proud of its inclusive football programs, which were funded by contributions made by players in the “football family”.

Football NSW said the Knights were “fully aware” of the implications of leaving the Granville and Districts Soccer Football Association for the Sydney Hills Football Association.

“For 2016, the Hills Knights made a decision to leave the football family, a decision which took all their teams away from all of the programs offered by Football NSW across football, futsal, coach education, referee education, talented player development and inclusion programs in disability football, indigenous football and multicultural football,” the spokesman said.

“The Hills Knights participated in a football working group facilitated by Football NSW at the end of 2015, and made their decision not to remain as an affiliated club of GDSFA and FNSW, and, in making that decision, were fully aware of the implications it would have on all players in their club.”