Players from the Everton in the Community Down Syndrome football team enjoyed an unforgettable afternoon at Finch Farm after being invited to the training ground by the Men’s Senior Team.
The visit marked World Down Syndrome Day and the club’s annual Community Day fixture against Chelsea, bringing a burst of energy and joy to the facility as the players prepared for the weekend.
The group of ten players, who compete regularly in the Merseyside Ability Counts League, provided a magnificent reception for David Moyes and his squad.
As the professional stars stepped out onto the training pitch, they were greeted with high-fives and loud renditions of popular Everton terrace chants, setting a lively tone for the session.
Meeting Jack Grealish and Seamus Coleman
After watching the Premier League squad train, the group was welcomed into the private player areas by Seamus Coleman and Jack Grealish.
The duo spent time chatting with the team about their football inspirations, while the visitors took the opportunity to show off their favourite goal celebrations and dance moves to an impressed Grealish.
The high spirits continued as the Down Syndrome team moved to the indoor pitch for their own training session.
They were joined by Jordan Pickford, James Garner, Iliman Ndiaye, and Idrissa Gana Gueye, who cheered them on during a filmed edition of the popular Hit the Bar challenge.
This special footage is set to be broadcast on the big screens at Hill Dickinson Stadium during the half-time interval of the match against Chelsea.
Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of Disability Football
The enthusiasm shown by the participants is a hallmark of the programme, according to Disability Development Coordinator Mark Dolan.
He said:
“The enthusiasm the players brought to Finch Farm is not a one-off – we see it at every training session, whether it’s the middle of winter or the height of summer.
“Whatever is thrown at them, they bring the energy, and it makes it really easy to coach.”
Jordan Pickford echoed these sentiments after spending time with the group, as he said:
“They’ve made our day with the energy and spirit they’ve brought to the training ground, and it’s been a pleasure meeting them all.
“The lads could hear them chanting Everton songs before we came out to train and we knew then it was going to be lively!
“They were great fun, so enthusiastic about playing football, and it was brilliant to see them have such a good time.”
Everton in the Community has operated its disability programme for twenty-five years, providing thousands of participants with the chance to engage in structured football while representing the club.
As one of the leading sporting charities in the UK, it manages over sixty programmes designed to tackle deep-rooted social issues across the Liverpool City Region.
The charity’s extensive work will be the central focus of Saturday’s Premier League fixture as part of the ongoing commitment to the local community.
