BRIGHTON and Hove Albion’s official charity teamed up with American Express to deliver a football day for people with Down’s syndrome.

More than 40 people attended the event which took place at the Seagulls’ American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing.

FA-qualified coaches from Albion in the Community put the players through their paces with fun football activities in the morning and a range of matches in the afternoon, including a game against players from one of AITC’s regular inclusive football sessions.

The event was funded by American Express and more than a dozen volunteers from the company’s offices in Brighton and Burgess Hill spent the day assisting the team from AITC.

The football day for people with Down’s syndrome was the latest in a string of similar events run in tandem by AITC and American Express.

Phil Broom, AITC’s disability development officer who organised the event, was delighted with how it went.

He said: “It was fantastic to see so many people enjoying playing football and to be able to hold events like this at the club’s training ground is amazing as it gives our participants the chance to play at a world class facility.

“I’d particularly like to thank the volunteers from American Express who played a big part in making the day such a success.”

AITC is the largest provider of football opportunities for people with a disability in the area and now runs more than 25 regular inclusive football sessions – including one for people with Down’s syndrome.

The charity has also recently launched a new team for players with Down’s syndrome and the hope is that some of the people who took part in the recent free football day may now begin playing regularly with AITC.

For more information on AITC’s inclusive football sessions, email: disability@albioninthecommunity.org.uk.