Academy players join Swans Foundation pan-disability football session to mark international day of people with disabilties

Swansea City scholars joined Swansea City Foundation’s Premier League Kicks pan-disability football session to mark International Day of People with Disabilities.

The weekly sessions at Cefn Hengoed leisure centre support children with disabilities to take part in football in a way that supports all abilities.

Nine players from the club’s academy joined the session, interacting with the young participants and taking part in a Q&A session.

The Foundation’s learning disability manager Lloyd Thomas leads the weekly session, and he was delighted to see the impact meeting the players had on the participants.

“It was great to have the players join us, it’s a nice way to round off the year heading into Christmas,” said Thomas.

“We want to make sure that as an organisation we offer provision for everybody, so giving our participants the opportunity to meet the players will go a long way and it will make a memory for life.

“It’s great to see the smile on the children’s faces, getting a photo, getting a signature and feeling they are connected to the club.”

Kiel Higginson was one of the players to join the session, and he was glad to be able to give back to the young participants.

“It’s always important to give everyone a chance to take part, so to give them an opportunity like this to take part with the players is brilliant,” said Higginson.

“They are all enjoying themselves, we are enjoying ourselves, and that’s the most important thing.

“We had a long, hard day at training, but this really just tops it off, it gives us something to go home and smile about going into tomorrow.”