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Martin, who has cerebral palsy himself, managed to carve a successful career out of football despite a lack of opportunities for disabled players when he was growing up, the pinnacle of which were five appearances for Great Britain at the London Paralympics in 2012.
“Having grown up playing football with cerebral palsy, I can see that football has changed in many ways,” he said. “There are far more opportunities for players to access football through a disability platform, which is partly due to the success of the London Paralympics and the media coverage it gained.”
Since joining Saints Foundation in January 2017, Martin has been heavily involved in the delivery of Hampshire’s first official Pan Disability League, working within the Saints4All team to encourage equal opportunities for footballers of all abilities.
“The first season of the Pan Disability League was a great success,” he said. “It gave players a platform to not only showcase their skills, but also engage with other players with the same ability.”
“The league continues to grow, and we will be welcoming lots of new players and new teams for the coming season.
“The league provides players with opportunities to access mainstream teams, and if they have specific impairments such as cerebral palsy, hearing or visual impairments, they can also progress onto the England disability pathway through our Regional Talent Hub.”
The FA recently awarded Saints Foundation a licence to become a Regional Talent Hub, providing an elite pathway for players between the ages of seven and 16 to progress into the England National Team, something which Martin has also been instrumental in setting up.
“Compared to when I was growing up, there are role models for disabled athletes everywhere, and new ones are cropping up all the time,” he said.
“The new Pan Disability season kicks off at Toynbee School in Eastleigh this Sunday, and our Regional Talent Hub also begins this month. I can’t wait to see everyone playing football with a smile on their face, and I’m glad I can be part of inspiring the next generation.”
To find out more about Saints Foundation’s Pan Disability League, please feel free to contact Martin at msinclair@saintsfc.co.uk.
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