Posh Deaf squad among the special guests at Saturday's fixture with Oxford United.
Peterborough United face Oxford United in Sky Bet League One action on Saturday at the ABAX Stadium (3pm) and the football club will be recognising a number of our disability groups at the fixture.
As part of the club's Level Playing Field Day, the deaf football team will put on a showcase of skills during the half-time interval.
The players from the deaf football team will hold a session in sign language and some of the younger players are having their annual team pictures taken.
On February 18th the deaf football project celebrated its 4th birthday and in that time the club have enjoyed some real success. The under 13 side became two-time Southern Champions and then went on to win the national deaf children’s tournament at St Georges Park in 2015.
Last year both the sides reached the southern finals again but were unlucky in close games against strong opposition. In two weeks they will be off to the national tournament again fresh from good victories over local non-deaf opposition.
Next Saturday the men’s team, in their second season, will be facing West Bromwich Albion in the Semi Final of the English Deaf Plate after a thrilling win away to Reading last month.
You’ll see on the pitch on Saturday sign language in action. Not all of the players use sign language – it’s not all about that. They ensure that their coaching is accessible to players who use hearing aids or cochlear implants when they could usually find it hard to follow a coaching session. A result of feeling left out is that players who are deaf don’t reach their potential in the game and that’s something, I hope we agree, all footballers should have the chance to do.
Five of the players have progressed to play for regional representative sides and one is currently involved with the England talent development programme. In the last four years they have taken pride in our deaf football project and take enormous pride in Peterborough United too.
The deaf team have also put together a video of some of the important phrases in sign langauge. You can view that here
Tickets for Saturday's game with Oxford can be purchased at www.theposhtickets.com, via the Ticketmaster hotline 0844 847 1934* or in person at the ABAX Stadium Box Office.
*calls cost 7ppm plus your network access fee.