(Picture: Thistle Works players celebrating at the end of their session Credit: Findlay Brown)
A charity team which had to set up its own fixtures after being told some of the members “weren’t disabled enough” according to the CEO, has had to adapt to continue to provide invaluable sessions for its players.
Partick Thistle Charitable Trust (PTCT), which was established in 2011 as the charity arm of Scottish football side Partick Thistle, runs numerous programs in Springburn, north Glasgow. Ranging from providing afterschool care to children in need to helping asylum seekers integrate into the community through football.
One of these programs, ‘Thistle Works’, offers football training for people with additional support needs during weekly sessions at Petershill Park in Springburn.
It is an essential service in the community, with a survey published by Scottish Disability Sport finding that 18% of the respondents did zero days of physical activity, with 73% saying they would like to do more.
Through its coaches, the program aims to help its players get active whilst building skills such as communication, improving social skills and time-keeping to become more independent, volunteer or enter the world of work where possible.
PTCT CEO Fraser Cromar says: “It’s an accessible tool to bring people together and express themselves as part of a team.
“You’re not working in silo, you’re working as part of a team and not wanting to let your comrades, your buddies, down. There’s a real sense of pride about what you’re doing, it really brings them out of their shell.”
However, the Trust recently made the difficult decision to not enter the Scottish Pan Disability Football League (SPDFL) after some of its players were not deemed eligible according to the criteria determined by the league.
Mr Cromar said: “The disability league set out a criteria for the league and I sympathise with them. They’ve probably been asked to show improvements for set demographics.
“Having a set criteria to be a certain amount of disabled to come in and play football and be part of that didn’t sit well with me at all and some of the other teams to be totally honest with you. This is about being inclusive.”
He adds, “Having criteria like that for people who have played the game for years as part of the team, and then you’re actually turning around to say ‘I’m sorry, you’re not part of the team anymore because you’re not disabled enough’. That’s just bonkers in my opinion.”
The ensuing decision to not participate in the league was made with the squad’s blessing before informing the SPDFL.
“They were very disappointed when we said we weren’t going to be taking part in the league,” he says.
“However, when we described exactly the rationale behind it, to make sure that we’ve stuck together, then they were absolutely all for it.”
The Trust were not alone in leaving the league. Street Soccer Scotland, Stenhousemuir Community Foundation and St. Mirren Charitable Foundation were just a few of the sides to band together with PTFC to provide alternative competitive games for their players in the form of ‘mini-tournaments’.
Not an ideal solution, but it allows players to continue to enjoy games and learn the transferrable skills that attending Thistle Works provides.
Karen Cumberland, mother of goalkeeper Mathew (who has a learning and physical disability), is full of praise as to how beneficial the program has been for her son.
“We’ve been coming here for about three years now and he’s made a lot of friends, socialising.
“It’s been really good for him and his health. He’s got a splint on his leg and he seems to be doing fine with it. No one ever says anything to him, that he’s got a splint or to make fun of him or anything like that. So he’s become quite confident as well with everybody.”
She adds: “I know there’s been many a time when Matthew’s been feeling quite down. He’s had a bad time, the goals are going and he’s not able to stop them. They always know how to speak to him and get him back on track again.”
Paul McDermott, who has autism and has come to the session with carer Paul Johnson, shared what the program had done for him:
“I think I’ve made good friends here, because I had nae friends in my life. No one would hang out with me in school and I wasn’t really popular.”
Since, Paul become captain of the side he calls “a big family” and met a good group of friends.
“I have pals who are here for me for life and I have made my mum and my whole family so proud.”
Mr Johnson has also noticed the benefits, saying: “I think Paul gets an incredible amount out of it. It’s given him a real outlet and a sense of community.
“I think that’s why programmes like these are so valuable. It provides a space where you are understood, people work with you, get to know you and how you work rather than maybe expecting people to fit into a mould.”
“In care there’s such a high turnover, so it’s difficult to build long-lasting relationships. But here you’ve got the same coaches, you’re seeing the same people each week, it allows you to build those relationships that other services can’t actually guarantee.”
As the Thistle Works team continue to enjoy competitive games and with Scotland’s upcoming participation in this summer’s World Cup as well as the Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow, Mr Cromar is hopeful about what the events can do to help people with disabilities be active.
“I think it needs to be more talked about, being physically active. Showing people of all abilities and disabilities that they are very much included in the groups that are out there. This is the time to be promoting them.”
In response, the Scottish Pan Disability Football League has said:
“The pan-disability football league is Scotland’s largest-attended, national competition for players with physical, sensory, or learning disabilities. We are inclusive to players with a wide range of disabilities. As with every organised football league, we have eligibility criteria in place, essential for ensuring fair competition, protecting player development and for safeguarding purposes. This inevitably means some players/teams do not qualify for the league as they do not meet the eligibility criteria
The qualifying criteria were set out at the league’s inception 11 years ago when set up by the SFA with the qualifying criteria being operated on a basis of trust. We have only had issues since requesting medical/professional confirmation of the qualifying criteria of players. The phrase ‘You’re not disabled enough’ is totally abhorrent and has never been used by Pan Disability Football League.”
