Football –
Locals living with disability are set to benefit from a new partnership between the Central Coast Mariners and One Culture Football.
One Culture Football delivers an all-inclusive football program for people aged 6 to 65 living with a disability or a health condition to be engaged in regular football coaching and games, with a focus on developing participants’ gross motor skills, self confidence and self esteem, as well as their understanding of football and general health and wellbeing.
The Mariners will be rolling out their own version of the program, One Culture Mariners, from November 1, with a free event at The Football Grounds in Erina.
Anyone with a disability is welcome to go along for an afternoon of football, fun activities and the opportunity to find out more about the weekly program.
One Culture Football Co-founder, Josh Smith, said that he is looking forward to bringing more football opportunities for people with different abilities on the Central Coast.
“One Culture Football has been delivering inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities through football for the last three years in Adelaide, and it has been super successful,” he said.
“The opportunity to partner with the Central Coast Mariners and The Football Grounds is a dream come true.
“The program will provide so many participants and families with the opportunity to connect with the game because everyone has the right to enjoy football, regardless of their ability, culture or gender.”
The new program is also expected to become an opportunity for participants, families and carers to build new social connections and provide a new way for the Mariners to connect with the wider community and inspire new interest in the world game.
“This program will give participants a real connection to a great local A-League football club and help create a more diverse Central Coast Mariners family,” said Central Coast Mariners CEO, Shaun Mielekamp.
“As a club, we are very excited to collaborate with the One Culture Football team to launch this program.
“It is so important that we help to create these opportunities for everyone to get involved with football and we can’t wait for the program to get underway,” Mielekamp said.
Following the launch event, One Culture Mariners will run as an 8-week program until December 20.
Dilon Luke