Irish children with intellectual disabilities will participate in the first Special Champions League which takes place in the Netherlands next week.
Ireland will be represented by a team assembled by League of Ireland side Bohemian FC and they will play against teams from some of the most storied clubs in Europe including Benfica, Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen.
The children involved took part in a training session by Bohs manager Keith Long on Saturday in advance of flying out to Breda next week for the one-day tournament.
Bohs are part of the European Football for Development Network which seeks to promote the game within marginalised groups.
Nine children will travel to Breda for the six-a-side indoor tournament and there will be at least three or four games each.
Bohs disability officer James Flanagan said it was the "opportunity of a lifetime" to play against children representing clubs they would otherwise only see on television. The club will pay for the parents to travel over.
“It’s a brilliant chance to bring these kids abroad. If we had this opportunity as kids we would have jumped at it to play against some huge clubs. It’s really exciting.”
The invitation to participate came only a month ago and a call was put out nationally for players. The children involved are from counties Dublin, Meath, Leitrim and Galway. They have been travelling for training once a week for the last four weeks.
Gerald Halpin's son Luke (17), a Liverpool fan, was contacted through Down Syndrome Ireland to participate. "He was lucky enough to be picked," he said of his son.
Long said it was a “brilliant initiative” and the children were going to represent not only the club but Ireland on the international stage.
Bohs has a long tradition of social engagement in the local community in Phibsborough.
“The philosophy of the club is very much community based and we embrace diversity. There are lots of different initiatives within the club. This is just another one of those led by James and his team. We are an inclusive club and a diverse club,” Long said.
“It’s a great opportunity for the boys and girls to go away, to have some fun and to have a wonderful experience.”
Bohs will play in the FAI Cup Final against St Patrick’s Athletic on November 28th in the Aviva Stadium.
The Special Champions League players and their families will be invited along to it. “We hope to give them something to celebrate,” Long said.
