Rochdale AFC and THE NEW FOOTBALL POOLS are making sure that every player counts!

In 2009 Rochdale AFClaunched its new scheme Every Player Counts with the aim of growing disability football provision across the Borough. Six months on and the coaching sessions have seen the number of players involved grow greatly.

Every Player Counts, a leading project of The Football League Trust and supported by The New Football Pools, sees Rochdale AFC delivering a three-year, PAN-Disability scheme developing football opportunities for people with all types of disability in the area.

To recognise the efforts of the scheme locally The New Football Pools, in association with the Football League Trust, has launched a 'Player of the Year Award' to recognise the commitment and effort going into making the scheme a success in Rochdale. Furthermore, an 'Unsung Hero' award will also be made to one of the invaluable volunteers or helpers whose effort makes a huge difference to the scheme.

Dale's project provides a coaching and disability package to:

Schools-a series of in term and after school coaching for pupils on the SEN register at Special and Mainstream Schools.

Community-weekly club coaching sessions at the Club's 5-a-side Complex and

Soccer Factory.

Greater Manchester Ability Counts-monthly league fixtures for teams played at high profile quality venues including The Cliff and Salford Sports Village.

The project specifically targets people with a range of disabilities including learning difficulties, physical/sensory impairments, emotional and behavioural, and those with long term illnesses and conditions.

In short-any person that is unable to access mainstream football and training opportunities.

Last season the under 16's squad won the Greater Manchester Abilities Counts League finishing above teams from Liverpool, Wigan Athletic and Manchester United.

This season, teams are competing at open age/under 16's/under 14's girls/under 12's mixed leagues.

Rochdale AFC is one of 39 Football League Community Schemes to deliver Every Player Counts, the first National PAN-Disability programme, this season.

The New Football Pools has developed a longstanding relationship with football and the community during its 86 years history.

Jon Sheehy, Marketing Director of The New Football Pools said: "We are delighted to see the success of our first Every Player Counts season and the positive impact it continues to have on the communities in and around the 39 football league clubs involved. We are fortunate to be able to support our nation's biggest sport through our Pools products donating close to £6million to football over the next three years. The Pools has invested over £1.1billion into football and other good causes throughout its history, from ground improvements to numerous social inclusion programmes. (TNFP to insert examples by club where appropriate)

"The Every Player Counts initiative and the growth in numbers attending the Rochdale sessions show what a tangible difference this investment is making to the community."

Rochdale AFC is looking for new players and anyone that might like to help as a volunteer at the scheme at Rochdale AFC 5-a-side Complex for open age on Mondays 5.30 - 7.00pm or Thursdays 1.00 - 3.00pm and under 16's on Wednesdays 5.00 - 6.30pm

Recently a session with Sunsportholidayprogramme was arranged which proved to be a highly successfulafternooninvolving football coaching and games. Sunsport provides veryhighlevelsof supportenabling youngdisabled people whowould normally beexcludedfromactivities.A set of adaptedactivitiessaw these young people take part in dribbling, passing, team games and lots more. The session was enjoyed by 30 people including young people inpoweredwheelchairs.It was fantastic to see them really get stuck into the skills and the competitive element of the game.

For further information or interviews, please contact:

Keeley Duffy at The New Football Pools on 07878002617 or email keeley.duffy@newfootballpools.com

Siobhan McElhinney at Rochdale AFC on 07921622578 or email

siobhan.mcelhinney@rochdaleafc.co.uk