Everton’s Down Syndrome team spend the day training with their idols

Everton in the Community’s Down Syndrome football team lit up Finch Farm recently after they were invited for an unforgettable day at the training ground by the Everton Men’s Senior Team squad. 

Marking World Down Syndrome Day (Saturday 21 March) – and the Club’s annual ‘Community Day’ – the 10 players brought energy and joy as they welcomed the Everton team out onto the training pitch before taking part in a ‘Hit the Bar’ challenge that will be shown on Hill Dickinson Stadium’s big screens at Saturday’s Premier League match against Chelsea.  
 
The group, who train weekly with EitC and compete in the Merseyside Ability Counts League, gave David Moyes and his squad a magnificent reception as they stepped out onto the training pitch, greeting them with high-fives and renditions of popular Everton terrace chants.  
 
After getting the opportunity to watch the Premier League stars train, the group were then stunned to be welcomed inside the player areas of the training ground by Seamus Coleman and Jack Grealish.

After chatting with the Blues duo about their football inspirations – and showing off their favourite goal celebrations, and dance moves – the Down Syndrome team enjoyed their own training session on the facility’s indoor pitch.  
 
And the high spirits continued when Jordan Pickford, James Garner, Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye joined the day’s special guests to cheer them on as they bid to hit the bar in a special, filmed edition of Everton’s popular half-time matchday game.

Reflecting on an eventful afternoon, EitC’s Disability Development Coordinator, Mark Dolan, 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.” 

Everton and England number one Pickford added:

“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’s disability programme has been established for 25 years and provides participants with opportunities to take part in structured football activities whilst representing Everton Football Club.   

Everton in the Community is one of the UK’s leading sporting charities through its 60+ programmes and initiatives, all of which are designed to tackle the region’s deepest-rooted social issues.  
 
The charity’s work is being celebrated at Saturday’s fixture as part of the Club’s annual ‘Community Day’.

Supporters can read more about what’s planned at here. 

Fans can buy special edition Everton doughnuts to support EITC this weekend, read more here.

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