THE future of disability football at junior and youth level on the Isle of Wight is in safe hands after the man behind its increased popularity stepped down from running it.

Last year, the Caulkhead Strollers Football Club started an initiative to run free football sessions at each of the Island’s special schools, with the aim of giving girls and boys of all ages and disabilities the chance to participate.

Isle of Wight County Press: Caulkhead Strollers founder, Dave Duffy, left, presents a cheque for £3,000 to Brading Youth chairman, Mark Powell, who will take disability youth and junior players from the disbanded Strollers.Caulkhead Strollers founder, Dave Duffy, left, presents a cheque for £3,000 to Brading Youth chairman, Mark Powell, who will take disability youth and junior players from the disbanded Strollers.

These sessions proved so successful, the Strollers formed junior teams and began offering regular club training.

However, when Dave Duffy — the man behind the success of the Sandown-based Strollers set-up — decided to retire as the club’s chairman in December, through ill health, it put the future for the continuation of the project at risk, with no natural successor to step into Dave’s capable shoes.

Not wanting to lose the enthusiasm of the players he had worked so hard to cultivate, Dave approached Mark Powell, the chairman of Brading Town Youth Football Club.

He asked him if Brading would be interested in running the disability teams under the Brading banner — particularly as Brading Youth had already assisted the Strollers by providing them coaches for the school sessions.

An agreement was reached and all the Strollers’ players were offered a chance to train and play with Brading Youth.

To allow for a seamless transition between the two clubs, it was agreed by the Caulkhead Strollers committee that training equipment, a defibrillator, first aid kits, plus £3,000 in cash support be given to Brading to allow the club to continue the momentum gained with the Strollers, who had to disband their successful adult disability team.

Dave also hopes advanced plans made with the Hampshire FA to start junior and youth disability leagues on the Island will continue through to a successful conclusion next year under Mark.

Mark said: “We are delighted to be given the chance to further the excellent work done by Dave and the Strollers.

“Our coaches are really excited to be working with the players again after such a positive experience we had with them previously.

“We are looking forward to growing the pan-disability game on the Island.”

Dave said he believes the move to Brading was the best one if disability football is to progress on the Island.

“The future is now bright, knowing that disability football on the Island will flourish in the safe hands of Mark and Brading Town Youth Football Club,” said Dave, 71, of Sandown.

“It was annoying to have to call it a day for health reasons as I was enjoying doing it.”

To find out more about opportunities for disability football contact bradingtownyfc@gmail.com