The Willetton Football Club celebrated International People With a Disability Day last Sunday.
In 2017 the club introduced its first integrated all abilities team into the amateur league.
Willetton local and coach Kevin Phillips said the most important factors related to taking part in this football competition are the social, emotional, and personal growth associated with being part of a team and general enjoyment of being part of something.
“The experience of football is overwhelmingly positive,” he said.
Since 2019, only two seasons since its inception, the Willetton team has made it into every grand final and took out the premiership in 2021.
Players Tyler RJ Gould, Geoff Stewart and Trent Fleming were selected in the West Australian team in 2019 to compete in the national carnival and Tyson Worthington made the All-Australian team and was the winner two years in a row.
Mr Phillips says he is immensely proud of his team which has consistently shown improvement over the years.
“We are very proud to be part of the Willetton Football Club who has welcomed the team and their families with open arms,” he said.
His son Kevin was injured in an horrific accident when he was struck by a speeding vehicle which ran a red light outside the McDonalds store in Willetton.
“He was thrown 30m landing on the opposite side of the intersection,” he said.
“He suffered catastrophic injuries and was in a coma at PMH for six months.
“Doctors recommended on more than three occasions we turn off his life support, but we refused.
“This accident left him with permanent brain injuries, and his survival and rehabilitation are nothing short a miracle”.
Kevin now plays AFL, cricket, basketball, and golf. He loves all sports and excels at each of them.
“Kevin and I both share the same love and passion for sports which is the main reason why I decided to coach his AFL team.”
New players are always welcome to Willetton, we are like a big family, and we are all looking forward to the 2024 season.
The Willetton integrated team train at Burrendah reserve on Tuesdays and Thursdays and kick the season off in March 2024.
The Perth football league currently have integrated teams playing in the amateur competition in Fremantle CBC, Coolbinia, High Wycombe, Kingsway, Mandurah, North Beach, Warnbro Swans, Wembley and Willetton.
