The Wyndham All Abilities Football & Cricket Club (WAAFCC) is embarking on a recruitment drive for new players.
President Paul Barrett said the club would ask schools and mainstream football clubs in the area, if players with a disability would like to join a club which caters solely to them.
Barrett said the WAAFCC welcomed male and female participants of all skill levels.
People wanting to play football with the club must be at least 14 years old, but cricket has no age limit.
The WAAFCC plays with the Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Association and also has a partnership with St John’s Cricket Club in Williamstown, for higher ability players to play mainstream cricket on Saturdays.
“St John’s have been great, when I approached them to start up the team, and I find that playing with them in the team has extended my cricketing life by some years,” Barrett said.
During the footy season, the WAAFCC fields a team with the Football Integration Development Association.
“We generally have around 23 footballers and 20 cricketers and a committee of around 12 persons,” Barrett said.
Aside from him, other committee members include vice president Luke Rose, secretary Elaine Doyle, treasurer Maree Barrett and head trainer Alyce Barrett.
Barrett said the WAAFCC has been in operating Wyndham for more than 31 years, but has no major sponsors.
“We do get some money from the Werribee Football Vlub but generally raise our monies through a few organisations that I deal with in my working life, and of course the beloved Bunnings barbecue,” he said.
“We just need to pull at the heart strings of companies that may be willing to get behind a club with disable(d) participants – a very hard task indeed,” he said.
The club trains at Warringa Crescent Reserve, Hoppers Crossing on Thursdays from 4.30pm.
Details: facebook.com/wyndhamtigers/
