Grimsby Town Foundation is proud to announce its official merger with Grimsby Town Ability Counts FC.
Grimsby Town Ability Counts FC has long been a pioneering force in providing football for individuals with disabilities, creating a platform for players to develop their skills, build friendships, and achieve their full potential on and off the pitch.
Through this merger, we aim to broaden these opportunities, drawing on the Foundation’s extensive resources, coaching expertise, and community outreach programmes.
This strategic partnership will see both organisations come together under the Foundation’s banner, with a united vision to offer enhanced opportunities for individuals with disabilities to engage in the sport they love.
This marks a significant step forward in our shared mission to promote inclusivity and accessibility in football across the community.
This new collaboration will also streamline the way we deliver disability football programmes, ensuring a more cohesive and comprehensive approach that aligns with the Foundation’s overarching goals of inclusion, well-being, and lifelong engagement in sports for everyone.
There are many benefits that will come off the back of this merger including expanded opportunities, improved support and great resources for those involved, as well as a broader reach within the Grimsby Town fanbase and the wider community to help raise awareness and support for disability football in the area.
On the announcement, Head of Inclusion at Grimsby Town Foundation Jason Land said, “This has been a long time in the works, but it’s amazing to get it over the line, to formalise this partnership officially with the Foundation and for the players of GTACFC to be able to say they are official Grimsby Town players is huge.
“I have been involved with GTACFC for over 20 years now and this merger will provide new opportunities for people with SEND.”
Ernie Land of GTACFC added, “This is a great opportunity to move the club forward and to give more opportunities to people with disabilities to play football. I have been on an incredible journey over the past 20+ years it’s now time for the next chapter.”
The Foundation’s Community Director Mike Thompson also added, “Bringing the Grimsby Town Ability Counts Football Team into the Grimsby Town Foundation family is a brilliant step in the right direction for both parties.
The work of Ernie, Jason and many others over the last 20+ has given so many young people in our community a platform to not only play football but to socialise, develop their interpersonal skills and not feel excluded from the sport they love to play.
“As a Foundation we are merely the custodians of this fantastic work already cemented by those mentioned previously. Jason Land, our head of inclusion will be heavily involved in progressing the Ability Counts team and I am looking forward to supporting them in all their future endeavours.”
For more information on the merger and how to get involved, please contact Jason Land via email jason@grimsbytownfoundation.co.uk or call/WhatsApp 07967201226.
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