Everton’s Disability Players Launch Team’s Third Kit

Everton’s Disability Players Launch Team’s Third Kit

Players from Everton in the Community disability football teams had the honour of launching the first team’s 2020/21 third kit with glitz on Wednesday August 26. As part of the “We are more than 11 players. We are more than one team” slogan, they marked two decades of Everton in the Community’s disability programme in style.

The kit launch campaign kicked off the 20th anniversary celebrations for the Everton in the Community Disability Programme. Founded in the year 2000, it has, in the last year alone, engaged more than 1,200 disabled people in opportunities including sport, education, training and volunteering.

The Everton in the Community Disability Programme includes 11 competitive football teams, with players of all age groups and with a range of disabilities. Outside of lockdown, the programme also delivers sessions at 10 special schools across Merseyside each week, engaging with more than 350 disabled children throughout the academic year and helping them develop key skills.

The programme has seen more than 50 players go on to represent their countries playing at European Championships, World Cups and Paralympic Games. Recent victories also include the Everton Amputee team being named 2018/19 FA Disability Cup winners after beating Portsmouth Amputee team 4-1 in the final. 

Everton’s Disability Programme is managed by former England Amputee Football player Steve Johnson who has more than 130 international caps. He has won three World Cups, scoring in two finals and was inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. He has also held the role of Chairman for the England Amputee Football Association (EAFA) for more than 30 years.

Steve said, “It has been a fantastic experience to begin our 20th year celebrations by being the focus of this kit launch. To me, it emphasises Everton’s values, the Club’s appreciation and understanding of the extended Everton family, and its commitment to living up to its name as ‘The People’s Club’. It shows that our teams are respected as part of Everton, that the Club takes our teams seriously and that our players are valued for the abilities that they have.”