The Team Took Part In The 2018 EAFA National League Cup

The Newcastle United Foundation has received a boost from Irwin Mitchell’s office in the city after the law firm, as part of its Don’t Quit Do It campaign, has donated to the Foundation to help support its amputee football team.

The firm’s Don’t Quit, Do It campaign seeks to support the benefits both physically and psychologically of being involved in disability sports and is supported by multiple gold-medal winning Paralympian Hannah Cockroft MBE.

Charities, individuals and groups involved in inclusive sport are eligible to apply for money to help with the cost of training, buying specialist equipment or taking part in special events. The programme has already given out £4000 to projects across the UK.

The £500 donation from the law firm will go towards helping the team with purchasing training equipment, venue hire for training sessions and travel expenses for fixtures.

The team, which was re-established in September, last year, has applied to take part in the EAFA League from next season. Prior to this, the team competed in the Irwin Mitchell sponsored EAFA National League Cup competition, on 25th February, finishing runners-up in the Plate competition, after losing their first round tie in the Cup competition to eventual winners Portsmouth, 2-0. 

Fran Mayes, who heads up the Personal Injury team at Irwin Mitchell’s Newcastle office and is lead Partner of the SI team, 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.

“The Newcastle United Foundation does some fantastic work and has a strong history of providing professional disability football coaching to both adults and children, and we are proud to be able to help out.

“The amputee team intends to compete in the EAFA League next season and we wish them the very best.” Fran Mayes - Partner

Reggie Dornan, Senior Disability Football Development Officer, said: “Since 2009, the Newcastle United Foundation has been working hard to provide good quality, professional disability football coaching to both adults and children. 

“We take an inclusive approach to football to ensure everyone can enjoy the beautiful game.

“Thanks to their donation, Irwin Mitchell has helped us with this and their kind actions have given the amputee team a big lift.”

Irwin Mitchell is a proud supporter of disability sport and has partnerships the England Amputee Football Association, Boccia England and a host of other related organisations.

The law firm was also the Official Legal Services Provider of the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017 at the London Stadium in July last year, while it also supported the one-day Superhero Series event held at Dorney Lake in Windsor in August.

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's Don't Quit, Do It campaign.