Birmingham County FA are on the search for teams to take part in the forthcoming "Ability Counts" Regional Football Tournament, to be held on Astroturf pitches at Warwick University on Saturday 31st May.
County Development Staff have been asked to stage this year's event in conjunction with the English Disability Federation of Sport, giving disabled people the chance to enjoy a day of competition against other teams from the West Midlands.
The tournament will welcome pan disability 7-a-side teams from special schools, day centres, clubs and other organisations, with competitions for U11s, U16 boys and girls and Open Age men and women. The winners of each category will go forward to the National Ability Counts Football Finals later this year.
Football Development Officer, Rachel Dunlop is one of the organisers of the event and as part of her role has developed more opportunities for disabled people to play football in the Birmingham FA region:
"The tournament is set to be a fantastic day for anyone who takes part, whether they have played before or not," she said.
"We know there are clubs in the West Midlands who are looking for competitions to play in, but this is also a chance for groups to form new teams and just have a go!"
Participation in the tournament is free, with more information and registration forms available from Rachel Dunlop – 0121 682 2525.
Girls County Cup Final: RESULT
Birmingham City Ladies Juniors 3-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Girls
Birmingham City Ladies scooped their third trophy in three weeks today as the U16 team overcame Wolverhampton Wanderers in an entertaining Girls County Cup Final.
The club added to their tally of titles with two well taken goals from Christa Poole in the 8th and 88th minutes, and a Sinead Butler penalty five minutes before half time.
Poole slotted home her first after breaking through the Wolves defence, then later timed her run perfectly to beat the off-side trap and have only the 'keeper to beat before sealing the win for Birmingham. Butler had seen Carly Baldwin come close to saving her penalty which was given after Stacey Leek was sent tumbling in the box.
Wolves pushed them all the way though; Hayley Smith's free kick sailed into the back of Nikisha Nembhard's net 12 minutes into the game, turning up the pressure in the second half.
Chances from Natalie Walker and Sophi Wilde went just wide, but it was Kayleigh Poole who gave her side hope of a late comeback by shooting from close range with one minute left on the clock, bringing the scores to 3-2.
The win gives Birmingham a prestigious hattrick after the Senior squad won the Women's County Cup and the Reserve Squad lifted the National Reserve League Cup earlier this month.
BCFA VETERANS CUP FINAL
Windermere Sports FC 1-2 Triplex Star FC
Triplex Star lifted the first of four titles on offer to them this season, by overcoming Windermere Sports 2-1 in the Final of the Birmingham County FA Veterans Cup.
The Kings Norton-based side scored both their goals in the first half, Adrian Moody slotting his shot under a sprawling Kevin Pitman in the 19th minute to put his side one-up.
A Don Bartley header from close range 6 minutes later widened the gap further as Triplex dominated the early stages.
Windermere began to claw their way back into the game and could have scored before the break. Brendan O'Callaghan took the ball past two defenders but missed the opportunity for a shot on goal. Instead he passed it wide to Dave Singh whose attempt was well stopped by Warren Beach on his line.
The Moseley-based outfit continued to press after the restart and were rewarded for their efforts 7 minutes later. Paul Coakley shot from the edge of the box, and with Beach diving to his right, the ball hit the bottom corner of the net.
Despite bringing on fresh legs in the closing stages, Windermere could not find an equaliser. Indeed, Don Bartley could have sealed it for Triplex with half an hour to go, but his shot flew over the bar.
Birmingham City Scoop County Hattrick
Women's County Cup Final
Aston Villa Ladies 0-3 Birmingham City Ladies
Birmingham City Ladies made County history this afternoon, by becoming the first team to win the Women's Cup three on three occasions. To make their achievement even sweeter, their triple title win also came in successive years.
Around 250 spectators were anticipating a close game, but Birmingham proved the greater threat from early on; Katy Ward and Eni Aluko making dangerous runs into the Villa penalty area.
Aluko scored the first goal in the 15th minute, with a chip over Rachel Dobbins after Katy Ward anticipated her run with a neat pass.
As equal a blow to Villa's chances came in the 24th minute when Nathanya Hicks was forced to leave the field after a clattering challenge earlier in the game, replaced by Loz Robinson.
Hicks had helped create Villa's best chance of the opening period after showing some terrific skill to take on the Birmingham midfield, then passing to Hannah Smith. Smith's shot was saved at the second attempt by Laura Watts.
The second half brought the second goal for Birmingham. Aluko again working well with Katy Ward and capitalising on a loose ball which she placed in the bottom right corner in the 59th minute.
Dobbins kept her side in with a slim chance of a comeback by pulling off some terrific saves from the Birmingham duo. However, the win – and record – was sealed for Birmingham when Katy Ward netted her reward for the entire team's effort in the 72nd minute.
A moment of madness from Ward saw her see red with just 7 minutes to go, after retaliating to a Villa challenge. However, it could not mask the celebrations when the final whistle blew and Birmingham ensured their place in the record book.
Gamble Pays Off - in Double!
Birmingham City took the money from Gary Newbon on Sunday but could not take the points from Doncaster Belles. Newbon, sports presenter and controller of Carlton Sport, will have to fork out £583 after Birmingham rose to his challenge and pulled in a crowd of over 500 for their FA Nationwide Premier League National Division match against the Belles.
The money will go to schools in the Redditch and Birmingham areas.
Meanwhile, Birmingham City Ladies Reserves had better luck in their FA Women's Premier League Reserve Cup Final, beating Arsenal 2-1 at Bishop Stortford FC.
Arsenal, with the wind behind them, dominated the first half producing a magnificent display from Blues keeper Mel Ramsdale to keep the score goalless at half-time.
The second half produced an exciting display of football with both teams pushing for an opening goal.
In the 56th minute Birmingham City's Hazannah Parnel played a neat through ball for Melissa Byrne who slotted it home.
Blues' celebrations were short lived though when a penalty was awarded for Arsenal five minutes later for handball in the area. Former England international Angie Banks stepped up and levelled the scores.
The game looked like it was heading towards extra time when a mistake let in Melissa Byrne who calmly netted the winner with five minutes to spare – elation for Blues who are the newcomers to the Reserve section since the Senior Squad won promotion to the National Premier League last year.
PLAY YOUR PART IN A BUSY WEEKEND FOR BIRMINGHAM CITY LADIES!
Birmingham City Ladies will be hoping for a record crowd for their women's top flight clash on Sunday March 9th. Not only will good home support hopefully cheer them to victory against opponents, Doncaster Belles, a crowd over 500 will leave Controller of Carlton Sport, Gary Newbon, up to £1000 out of pocket.
Having watched a recent Birmingham City Ladies match, Newbon issued a challenge that if 500 paying spectators attended the next home game then he would cough up £500 plus £1 per head over 500, up to a maximum of £1000.
Birmingham chairman, Steve Shipway, in accepting the challenge said: "Gary`s quote in the local press stated that, 'women can't play and nobody wants to watch them' just goes to show how little he knows about the current status of Women's Football in England.
"I will take great pleasure in making him cough up on the day. Our club will donate any prize money raised from the challenge to provide kit and equipment for girl's teams in schools in Redditch and Birmingham."
The game on March 9th will feature 12 current England internationals, including Birmingham City skipper Laura Bassett who won her first full England cap last week against Italy.
Birmingham City Ladies are asking local people to help make Gary pay up and eat his words. Turn up at Redditch United FC, Valley Stadium, Bromsgrove Road, Redditch on Sunday 9th March 2pm kick off against Doncaster Belles. Admission is £2 for adults and £1 for kids.
Face painting is on offer for kids (including the big kids amongst us), with the chance to win an England shirts signed by the Women's Squad. Central TV Cameras will be there, so come and get your (painted) face on TV!
Meanwhile, Birmingham City's Reserve side face Arsenal Ladies for the first silverware of the women's football season as the The FA Reserve Section Cup Final takes place at Bishop Stortford FC on Sunday.
The women's Reserve Section is the league where top women's sides such as Arsenal, Birmingham City, Doncaster Belles and Fulham blood their young players. The Football Association runs the three flagship women's football divisions, under the banner The FA Nationwide Women's Premier League, as well as four regionalised reserve divisions.
This Sunday will see the Final of the annual FA Reserve Section Cup, one which Arsenal have won three times in the last four years. This is the first time that Birmingham City have competed in the Final, with their first team playing in the women's top flight for the first time this season.
The Reserve Section Cup Final will take place this Sunday 9th March 2003, with a 2.30pm kick-off, at Bishop Storford FC, Woodside Park, and there is no cost for entry.
A full match report will appear at TheFA.com/women on Monday morning.
For further information on Birmingham City Ladies FC contact: Steve Shipway on 07850 519669