Spartans FC - Sheffield's Special Olympics Football initiative

Clink on the links below to see detail of the following articles:

  1. The Spartans  Tournament 2011

  2. The Spartans  Tournament 2010

  3. The Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA's Ability Counts Tournament 2010

  4. The Spartans v Doncaster at the E.I.S.

  5. The Spartans at Bramall Lane

  6. The Spartans begin

The Spartans  Tournament 2011

On Sunday 26 June 2011, the Spartans staged their second annual tournament at the Sheffield University Warminster Road grounds where teams from as far away as Stirling in Scotland, Merseyside, Cleethorpes, Pontefract, Barnsley, Thorne and Fickley were joined by Sheffield FC, Sheffield Wednesday and the Spartans. The 'A' tournament was won by Merseyside, while Barnsley 'B' were winners of the 'B' tournament, although everyone that took part were winners by proving that football really is a game that anyone can play and enjoy. Organiser Mike Stylianou (pictured right with some of the Spartans squad and helpers) had plenty of praise for all the participants and the helpers and was particularly grateful to the University and groundsman Adrian Hankin and his staff. Mike thanked the volunteers from Laycock Sports, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Blades Super Draw League, while Mike was also very grateful for the contributions from local football equipment specialists twentytwo, DB Sports and Kitlocker. Below is action from the tournament:

   

The Spartans  Tournament 2010

On Saturday 28 August, starting at 12:00, the Spartans stage their first tournament at the Sheffield University Warminster Road grounds and it can be classed as an international tournament with a team from the West of Scotland taking part. As well as the Spartans, the Scots are joined by Thorne from Doncaster, Pontefract Pirates and Cleethorpes Town. It should be a good warm-up for the Spartans as they prepare for their first ever season in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Ability Counts League in 2010-11.

Action from the tournament is below. The A & B finals were both won by the A & B teams from Scotland, but everyone saw this first Spartans Tournament as a great success. The Spartans are very grateful to all the participants and helpers, and to Sheffield University for their hospitality and help at Warminster Road. A raffle, including a football signed by all the people that had presented the Blades Super Draw League's Merit Award presenters helped to raise £200, which the Spartans will use to provide the team with waterproof tops for the forthcoming season.

     

The Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA's Ability Counts Tournament 2010

During the summer of 2010 the Spartans took part in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA's Ability Counts Tournament at the Sheffield Wednesday Academy. Six teams took part, Sheffield Wednesday 'A' & 'B', Rotherham Dynamoes 'A' & 'B', Frickley Foxes and the Spartans and the Spartans picked up their first ever medals (see picture bottom right)after coming runners-up in the 'B' Final - a great achievement by a team that has little experience of tournaments. The Spartans will be taking part in the Ability Counts League in the 2010-11 season.

The Spartans v Doncaster at the E.I.S.

Sporting their new kit, funded by The Football Foundation (pictured left), Spartans FC's had their first friendly matches against Doncaster at the EIS (English Institute of Sport) in Sheffield recently.

It was a great experience for the team against more experienced opponents. In the games the Spartans lost 6-2 to the Doncaster 'A' team and 6-0 to the Doncaster 'B' team, but the results were much less important than just taking part

Pictured right and below is some action from the games and the two squads.

The Spartans at Bramall Lane

Mick Rooker, Sheffield United's Blades Super Draw promotions manager invited the Spartans to the Blades' recent game at home against QPR.

Mick has been impressed by the way the Spartan's are developing and, along with the Blades Super Draw League, is doing what he can to help promote the Spartans and the work being done on their behalf.

Everyone had a great day out and the Spartans and their helpers would like to thank Mick and his staff for their support and encouragement. Mick is pictured right with the Spartans.

More pictures from the day are shown below:

 

 

 

The Spartans begin

The Special Olympics movement has been active in Sheffield since the City hosted the National Games in 1993. Participation has increased steadily through the years with clubs being set up to allow people to train in swimming, athletics and basketball and in September 2009 a new Special Olympics football club was formed – Spartans FC.

Although they have built up a solid core of players and coaches (below, left, are some of the participants and helpers) they are looking for further people to participate and for opportunities to compete against teams of similar abilities.

If you know someone who would like to take part, please contact Mike Stylianou on 07799065469 for details.

Along with Sheffield United's Blades Super Draw, the Blades Super Draw League contributed towards the project's start up costs and the Blades Super Draw Sunday Sports League is further helping to promote the Spartans FC project with publicity via its website - so watch out for updates. The League has also donated an autographed football bearing the signatures of Bryan Robson, Steve Coppell, Ray Wilkins, Paul Merson, Brian Laws, Dario Gradi, Danny Webber, Phil Jagielka and many others, and it is hoped the ball will help to raise further funds for the project. Below right is the League Chairman Keith Firminger, presenting the ball to some of the Spartans players. More information about the Special Olympics is below.

Special Olympics Great Britain

Special Olympics Great Britain is a charity that provides year-round sports training and competition to children and adults with learning disabilities. It offers the opportunity for those who participate to develop their physical fitness and motor skills, while achieving greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image.

Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with a learning disability can, with proper coaching and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports, adapted as necessary to meet their individual needs. 

The Special Olympics movement believes that through sports training and competition, people with a learning disability benefit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Families are strengthened and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united with people with a learning disability in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance. 

SOGB National Game, Leicester 2009

The Special Olympics Leicester National Summer Games that took place from the 25th to the 31st July 2009 in Leicester was the largest multi-sport event held in GB in 2009. In all some 2,700 athletes competed in 21 sports as well as 1,200 coaches, 1,500 volunteers and 6,000 families.  

A squad from Sheffield made up of 40 athletes and coaches took part in the Leicester Games. The triumphant athletes, with ages ranging from 14 to 55, returned to Sheffield with 23 gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze medals.  The medals were awarded in athletics, basketball, cycling, powerlifting and swimming events.