"Football is Fun" Project Gets Royal Honour

7.33.00pm GMT Tue 11th Dec 2007

Away from the multi-million pound professional game, the real meaning of football is being encouraged through an innovative project which was showcased before Her Majesty the Queen.

Football First is bringing the game back to the grass roots as a fun thing to do by inspiring all members of the community from different ethnic groups - and including those with disabilities - to get involved in the sport.

The project's achievements were highlighted when a disability youth group played in one match while their adult counterparts played another before the Queen as part of the Royal Visit to the new Stadium MK on Thursday, November 29. Among the team were players of both sexes with disabilities ranging from autism to Down's syndrome and deafness, covering an age range from 6 to 60.

Football First started about three years ago as an initiative run by Milton Keynes Council, MK Dons' Football in the Community and the Football Foundation. Since then it has had a number of successes, helping to establish regular tournaments and inspiring ethnic communities to get involved by forming their own teams such as Punjab Utd and African Utd.

The scheme was motivating in its approach, for example in helping one player called Ali to overcome racial prejudice in his community by demonstrating his skill on the football pitch. Another player suffering from low self-esteem turned his life around, throwing off depression and losing weight by using the sport to build his confidence.

Liberal Democrat councillor Euan Henderson, cabinet member for leisure, said: "Football First is one of those projects that demonstrates what sport is all about. It is actively encouraging all members of our community to come together to have fun. That is what I believe is meant when football is called the 'the beautiful game'."