A PLACE in the London 2012 Paralympic Games could be a dream ticket for a squad of ambitious footballers in York.
The city is home to the North East and Yorkshire Cerebral Palsy team, one of six regional sides in the country competing for places in the national squad.
Their regional rivals are based in Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, London and Plymouth, with the cream of the crop likely to represent Great Britain in 2012.
Seven-a-side football for players with cerebral palsy was introduced to the Paralympic Games in 1984, while the only other form of football in the Games is five-a-side for blind and partially sighted players.
The York-based cerebral palsy team are funded by the Football Association and coach Paul Bird is looking to recruit new players in the coming months.
Bird said: “The idea is that England coaches can look at players from around the country and find new blood to get into the squad for 2012.
“It’s great for York to be one of the six regional centres. I have found a few players who are on England’s radar, so potentially they could be involved in 2012.”
The team have held training sessions at York College, but they will also train at Energise in Acomb, who have sponsored a kit.
Further information about the team is available by phoning Bird on 07721 672976 or by emailing sportscoach@talktalk.net
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