A Belfast coach has spoken of his pride at watching the impact disability football is having on local communities.
Saturday will be a special day for Linfield DFC's Kyle Ogle.
The Blues will host their first-ever tournament, with a total of 21 teams competing on the day.
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Boys and girls aged from 7-15 years will go for glory at Midgley Park, in the shadows of Windsor Park, but more importantly they will enjoy playing the game they love with a smile on their faces.
Linfield DFC head coach Ogle has seen the positive influence football has had on families in the community, and he hopes Saturday's tournament is the first of many in the weeks and months ahead.
He said: "Saturday's event is at Midgley Park and will run from 10am-2pm. We will have two sections. In the Juniors we have a total of eight teams from Linfield, Glentoran, Dungoyne and St James' Swifts taking part. These are all boys and girls aged from seven years old up to 15.
"In the Seniors we have a total of 13 teams from Linfield, Glentoran, St James' Swifts, Lurgan Town, CSP and Down Special Olympics taking part.
"These games are for both male and females aged 15 and above. We at Linfield have a couple of players over 50 taking part.
"Both sections are for kids and adults with both learning and physical disabilities.
"This is the first tournament of this nature that Linfield have held, but it is something we hope will become an annual thing over the coming years, all being well."
Ogle says his players have been "buzzing" since discovering Linfield would be hosting the tournament.
Other clubs have also expressed their excitement ahead of Saturday's big event.
"All are players are absolutely buzzing about the event coming and have been talking about it at training since we told them it was happening," he said..
"We've also had players from some of the other clubs taking part talking about their excitement for it.
"No doubt the draw of playing at Midgley Park, the home of Linfield Football Club, has had a big factor in this, and we must thank the club for allowing us the opportunity to run the event."
Linfield Disability Football Club was formed in November 2019 but its early progress was stalled by the coronavirus pandemic.
"We had around 8-10 junior players (7-14 year olds) and five senior players (15+) attending our first training sessions in the Donegal Road Methodist Church Hall," Ogle recalls.
"Covid then set in and really disrupted things and stalled us getting started properly, although once we returned after the pandemic things really took off from there.
"We now have over 30 junior players and over 30 senior players training with us on a weekly basis.
"When you have to break that down into 5-a-side teams to meet the disability league requirements, it can start to get tricky. We currently have three junior teams and four senior teams competing in the disability leagues.
"Our senior A and B teams recently won the Premiership and Championship titles respectively, in what was our first ever competitive season together.
"So I have no doubt there are big things to come from our teams in both sections over the next 12 months and beyond."
Ogle's first involvement in disability football came at Linfield, and he hasn't looked back since.
As well as improving their football skills, he says the players are also learning important social tools to help them in their day-to-day lives.
"I had never been involved with disability football until I came in and joined Linfield, but it's something I don't think I could ever leave now," he said.
"To see so many young kids and adults just playing football with a smile on their face every week is something special, but then you also see how football is changing them socially and that really is something else.
"The amount of parents we've had who say getting their kids involved has completely changed their lives.
"We've had kids join us who have had very little social skills and now they've all got their own wee friend groups and it's helping them develop outside of football too in school.
"And also all the help from the coaches who make this possible, and the likes of Glenn Ferguson, Linfield's head of academy, who has also been a massive help."
Kyle believes disability football is starting to get the support it deserves after struggling to gain any mainstream attention.
But he believes anyone in attendance on Saturday will see the quality of football on show, and the positive impact it has on the players, coaches and families.
"Over the last year or so we've noticed an increase in the number of clubs starting disability teams which can only be good for the sport, and hopefully that trend continues," he said.
"In my eyes it maybe doesn't get the support it should in all honestly. Not only do all the kids and adults taking part love it, but some of the quality of the football is absolutely amazing.
"I would urge anyone, if you are free on Saturday morning come along and support this event, it's guaranteed to be a cracking day of football."
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