In the 2023/24 season, Lincolnshire FA took a significant step forward in promoting inclusion by introducing the County Disability Cup, a new competition designed specifically for disability football clubs across the county.

This initiative, entered into the 2024 County FA Recognition Awards under the Special Recognition Award category, has been met with overwhelming positivity and marks a milestone in Lincolnshire FA’s commitment to inclusivity in football.

Project Context

Before the 2023/24 season, Lincolnshire FA ran 14 County Cup Competitions, all focused on mainstream football. As part of the County FA’s inclusion priorities, it became clear that the next phase in the County Cup’s development would be to create a competitive platform for disability football clubs. For years, disability clubs within the county had expressed interest in such a competition, but logistical barriers, such as a lack of teams and staff turnover, prevented it from happening. 

After conversations with stakeholders during the 2022/23 season, Lincolnshire FA’s Disability Pathway Lead and County Cup Lead made the commitment to deliver a County Disability Cup for the 2023/24 season. This competition aimed to provide a unique, inclusive, and competitive opportunity for disability teams across Lincolnshire, with the added benefit of bringing all disability teams together to compete on home soil for the first time.

Insight and Data

Lincolnshire FA’s County Cup Programme had a strong reputation, but until this season, it did not include disability football. Disability clubs frequently mentioned that they wanted to experience the same opportunities as mainstream teams, particularly the chance to compete in a County Cup Competition. To address this, Lincolnshire FA partnered with the Lincolnshire Ability Counts League to design a competition format that met the needs of players and clubs.

The result was a County Disability Cup that mirrored the prestige of the mainstream County Cup Programme, while adapting to the unique needs of disability football. This included maintaining familiar rules and structures, such as the central venue format and using referees known to the players, ensuring that the competition felt accessible and inclusive for all participants.

Action

The County Disability Cup kicked off with 10 teams, competing in two groups of five. Over 110 players took part in this groundbreaking competition. The 6v6 format, slightly different from the 5v5 league structure, gave players more time on the pitch and a fresh competitive experience.

The competition also featured a live-streamed cup draw, watched by over 1,700 people, which included the involvement of one of the club’s coaches. As the competition progressed, the top teams from each group moved on to the finals round, which was held at a stadium venue to give players the full "County Cup Experience." With spectators, walkouts accompanied by music, an announcer, and event photographer, the finals day was a true celebration of disability football in Lincolnshire.

All players involved in the finals received medals, with winners earning gold, runners-up taking silver, and third-place teams awarded bronze. A special plaque was presented to the fourth-place team, ensuring that every participant was celebrated.

Results

The County Disability Cup saw the participation of 10 teams and 120 players, with over 40 spectators attending the finals. The event was praised by players, coaches, and volunteers alike. Testimonies included:

- “The County Cup is the one everybody wants to win, and to win the first County Disability Cup is a great achievement for our club.”
- “This competition contributes to building a more inclusive footballing community, creating a culture of greater understanding for footballers with disabilities.”
- “The hype has been real. For our players to see their teams in mainstream media has given them a real buzz. This competition feels like our FA Cup.”

The competition was also a success on social media, generating over 243,000 impressions, 41,000 video views, and 342 website views.

Next Steps

Following it's success last season, Lincolnshire FA is already planning for the 2024/25 competition. The organisation is consulting with managers, volunteers, and players to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement. There is also a focus on engaging with disability teams that did not participate this season, with the aim of expanding the competition even further in the future.

This project has not only created a new and inclusive competitive platform for disability football in Lincolnshire, but it has also set the stage for continued growth and success in the years to come.

Stuart Houlton, Business Support Officer at Lincolnshire FA, said:“Our goal with the County Disability Cup was to create an inclusive, competitive platform that gave disability footballers the same sense of pride and achievement that mainstream players experience in our County Cup competitions. The overwhelming positive feedback from players, coaches, and spectators shows that this initiative has not only filled a long-standing gap but has also brought the footballing community closer together.”