Story added: 21st November 2017

Joy for youngster over selection

A player from the Community Sports Foundation’s (CSF) Adult Disability Player Development Centre (PDC) has been selected to attend the Football Association’s (FA) Emerging Talent Camp this season.

Sixteen-year-old Owen Woodrow, who has cerebral palsy (CP), was invited to attend the camp after trialling in November as part of the FA’s Talent Identification Programme.

The programme helps identify and develop talented young players across the country with a view to helping them progress onto the international stage.

Owen first joined the Foundation’s Pan Disability football squad aged 11 and soon made the progression to the U16 Disability PDC.

The youngster went on to play for both the Tottenham Hotspur and London FA Regional CP Centre of Excellence (COE) squads and is currently coaching the U16 CSF Disability PDC as part of a work placement.

“We never thought Owen would come this far,” explains his mother, Helen. “Throughout his life, he has had to cope with the frustration of not being able to do things like other people, being treated differently and not being included.

“The staff and coaches at CSF have always been there for Owen and have given him the confidence to progress. We are so proud of him and are looking forward to the opportunities coming his way.”

The teenager will have the chance to participate in additional fixtures and training opportunities, meeting up regularly with the other members of the selected squad during the course of the season.

CSF Disability Development Manager Darren Hunter commented:

“This is an incredible achievement for Owen and is a credit to the effort that he has put in.

“The next step after the Emerging Talent Camp is the England Development Squad so it’s exciting times ahead for him!”

Not just a talented footballer, Owen has also recently been selected for inclusion on the Swim England Para-Swimming Foundation programme.

This programme sees some of the best age group swimmers in the country compete and is renowned for highlighting swimmers to watch in the future, especially now leading up to Tokyo 2020.

The Foundation would like to wish Owen the best of luck and hope he enjoys the season ahead.

To find out more about CSF’s disability programmes contact [email protected].