Team Set Up By NLY Community Sport With Support From Irwin Mitchell

Selby Disability Football Club player Billy Hobson has been picked for the 2019 Mencap GB squad which will compete at the European Championships in Geneva in Switzerland.

Billy is one of 15 players from across the country who will fly out to the competition in June. He becomes the first ever Selby DFC to be picked for the prestigious squad.

Selby DFC was launched last year by not-for-profit organisation NLY Community Sport, in partnership with the Inspiring healthy lifestyles Wellbeing team at Selby Leisure Centre.

NLY Community Sport received a £500 grant from Irwin Mitchell as part of the firm’s Don’t Quit, Do It initiative. Part of the grant from the law firm to NLY Community Sport, an organisation run by two young coaches in James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has gone towards providing training tops to Selby Disability Football Club.

The teams trains at Selby College on Thursday nights during the Winter, but they move back to the Leisure Centre on April 3 and will train on Wednesdays.

James Grayson, Selby DFC head coach, said: “Myself and Connor are absolutely over the moon that Billy has been picked for the Mencap GB squad and we are really proud of him.

“After he got picked he told me that it was one of the greatest days of his life. That kind of comment makes running the sessions worthwhile.

“We promised when we (NLY Community Sport) linked up with the Wellbeing team at Selby Leisure Centre last June to run the session that we would take two players to the Mencap trials.

“We delivered on that promise and we have gone one better with Billy getting picked to go to Geneva. Hopefully he will be the first of many.”

Billy needs to raise a little bit of money to go, but he also wants to help his Selby DFC team-mates by raising some for the team as well. Money raised for the team will go towards minibus hire/pitch hire and depending on how much is raised, some kit for either matches or training.

Billy and the team are going to be doing some fundraising. A sponsored penalty shootout and bake sale are two things in the pipeline.

James added: “The reaction to the news has been extraordinary, but it shows just how well Billy is known around the Town.

“It is clear from the messages that everyone is really proud of him. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it will be an amazing experience.

“Let’s hope we can raise the money to get him on the plane and also raise some funds for the whole team. In my opinion, it is a fantastic opportunity to bring the community together.”

Cathryn Godfrey, an associate and serious injury specialist at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office, said: 

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“At Irwin Mitchell, we believe in building strong links within the communities in which we work, and supporting good local causes.

“When we heard about the work James and Connor are doing we were so impressed with their drive and determination, opening up different sports to people who previously may not have had the opportunity to try them.

“We are delighted to see our grant is still helping James and Connor to inspire others to realise that disability need to be a barrier to sport.

“We are proud to support all the work they do, including Selby Disability Football Club. We look forward to cheering Billy on at the European Championships in Geneva.” Cathryn Godfrey - Associate Solicitor

You can support Billy here: https://www.gofundme.com/get-billy-on-the-plane-and-help-selby-dfc