Following on from their success at the Association of Colleges (AoC) National Sports Championships, Walsall College’s Supported Learning Football Team were recently invited to volunteer at Walsall Football Club.

The group of supported learning students, who have a range of disabilities or impairments, were crowned national champions in the AoC Football for Students with a Disability tournament after beating of competition from other college teams.

The team went to Bescot Stadium on Thursday 30th April for the English Colleges Football Association (ECFA) National Knockout Cup Finals, where they played a key part in making sure the mens match between Brockenhurst College and St Mary's Sports College ran smoothly, followed by the Ladies (ECFA) National Knockout Cup Final between Itchen College and Wyke College.

Students were given a variety of important roles including flag bearers, ball boys and escorting VIP guests and teams to the right areas.

Andy Higgins, Walsall College SLDD Sports Co-Ordinator and Team Coach said. “It was an honour and a privilege for students to be invited to the event as Aoc National Championship Winners. It gave them the chance to watch football at a very high standard and be celebrated as Champions in their own right.

“The students really enjoyed the positive experience and their confidence has increased massively since being involved with the football team.”

Jonathan Bradley, Walsall College SLDD Learning Mentor and Team Coach commented. “It was a fantastic event to be part of and the students did us all proud with their professionalism.

“It also gave them the opportunity to work as a team off the pitch as well as on the pitch, put into practice problem solving techniques to enhance their learning and gain good work experience to add to their CVs.”

Skills for Working Life student, Ryan Mcnicol, 17, said: “Being a part of a match at Walsall Football Club stadium was really exciting and a great opportunity to be given. As a ball boy it was my job to get the ball back on the pitch as quickly as possible so the players could get on with the game. Having played in matches myself, I know how important this is to the players on the pitch so I made sure I did the best job I could.”