The GMM Insurance Devon Ability Counts League Finals took place on Sunday 18th May at Devon County FA with a fantastic display of Football talent from Disability Football teams across Devon!

The Adult’s Finals Day at Coach Road kicked off with all five divisions taking stage on the Devon FA pitches and with teams battling for league titles and the Respect Fair Play Award. The Junior Ability Counts Festival also took place on the same day with over 40 junior disability Football players attending from Plymouth Argyle, Keyham Kolts Active Autism, Pinhoe Spartans FC, Torquay United Inspirations, Barnstaple FC and Twyford Spartans FC. The Junior Festival included fun coaching sessions in the morning delivered by the FA Tesco Skills Team (Marcus Lincoln and Dominic Edwards), Lee Tebby (Junior Ability Counts Co-ordinator and Twyford Spartans Coach) and Kevin Titchard (Torquay United Inspirations Coach) with a World Cup Festival in the afternoon for all junior teams. Every junior player and coach was a credit to their Football Club participating in every activity, improving their skills alongside having a fun, enjoyable day!

The attention then turned to the Adult Ability Counts League’s with all to play for and a final match showdown in the Ability Counts Intermediate Division between Twyford Spartans FC and Barnstaple FC which decided the league title. The presentations then took place with the junior players receiving their trophies for their participation across the season with the adult’s presentation taking place after with teams collecting their trophies from each division. As the league is also part of the FA Respect Programme, throughout the season referees have marked teams on their discipline, conduct and fair play on the pitch. This enables the league to promote respect between players, coaches, referees and spectators.

The Devon Ability Counts League Winners, Runners Up and Respect Winners are below:


Premiership:
Winners - Exeter city Ability Counts First Team
Runners Up - Exeter Tornadoes
RESPECT Winenrs - Plymouth Pilgrims

Championship:
Winners - Twyford Spartans Ability Counts First Team
Runners Up - Exeter City Ability Counts Second Team
RESEPECT Winners - Torquay United Inspirations

Intermediate:
Winners - Twyford Spartans Ability Counts Second Team
Runners UP - Barnstaple FC
RESPECT Winners - ROC Active Exeter

League 1:
Winners - Barnstaple FC Ability Counts
Runners Up - Twyford Spartans Ability Counts Third Team
RESPECT Winners - Plymouth Argyle Ability Counts Fourth Team

League 2:
Winners - Special Olympics Plymouth
Runners Up - Barnstaple Bombers
RESPECT Winners Tavistock Specials

Chris Stephens (Devon Ability Counts League Chairman) describes the season and success of the finals day:

“We are delighted as a league to offer opportunities to players of all abilities and impairments and this season has been a particular successful season with three teams that have participated in the National FA Disability Cup alongside the Devon Ability Counts League calendar. Thank you to league sponsors GMM Insurance for supporting the league this season and thank you to all the volunteers across the clubs for their dedication to coaching and running teams throughout the season including the referees. The finals day finished yet another fantastic season with both adult and junior festivals taking place on the same day, great team spirit shown by all teams and it was great to see every player enjoying the matches across every division. The finals day showcased just what the Devon Ability Counts League is as a fun, inclusive, social league for Disability Football”

If you would like further information on Disability Football in Devon or how to get involved with Disability Football, please contact Ashley Harris on 01626 323560 or email Ashley.harris@devonfa.com


Read more at http://www.devonfa.com/news/2014/may/devon-ability-counts-finals-day-2014#HkQG71wwMm5tCXAD.99