Arriva Trains Wales | BRAVEHARTS FLY HIGH WITH SPONSORSHIP BOOST

BRAVEHARTS FLY HIGH WITH SPONSORSHIP BOOST

More than 80 footballers with special needs from South West Wales are to benefit from a sponsorship deal secured with Arriva Trains Wales.

Players with Andrea Orlandi The funding support announced with Swansea City Braveharts FC will assist with the running of the club and offer new opportunities for disabled people to take part in sport.

Affiliated to Mencap and the Football Association of Wales, the club was formed in 2000 with only six youngsters.

Matches are held throughout the year on Tuesday evenings at the Leisure Leagues Centre in Cwmdu with players travelling from Llanelli, Neath and Swansea to play under the supervision of the club’s nine volunteer coaches.

Speaking on behalf of the Braveharts, manager Bev Cotter, said: “We are a social club that plays football for the benefit of players and their families. Every player has a disability and the club allows them to socialise and develop social skills which will greatly improve their quality of life.”

She continued: “Each year, we take some players to Coventry for trials with the British Mencap Football Team. Since 2006, four of our youngsters have been selected to represent the Mencap Gateway National Squad and we are immensely proud of their achievements.”

Bravehart Coaches Geraint Morgan, community affairs manager of Arriva Trains Wales, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Braveharts and are looking forward to an exciting and successful partnership. The club provides an invaluable service for players and families and this sponsorship will help promote the development of disabled football in the area.”

The Club regularly competes against sides from Aberystwyth, Haverfordwest, Newport, Bridgend, Wolverhampton and Chelsea. In 2008, the club will host its inaugural tournament in Swansea with more than 400 youngsters taking part from all over Wales.