Everton VI FC
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EVERTON VI (VISUALLY IMPAIRED) FOOTBALL CLUB - CHAMPIONS Everton V I F.C. Fixtures 2003-04 In the year 2000, Everton Football Club, were the first ever Professional League club to enter a team into the National 5-a-side Football League for the Partially Sighted. The Squad is organised, funded and coached by the "EVERTON FOOTBALL IN THE COMMUNITY." The League has been in existence since 1980 and the governing body is British Blind Sport (BBS), who also have on offer various sporting events and opportunities for people with a visual impairment to participate. The Football League allows Partially Sighted players to compete against each other in League and Cup Tournaments, which are held at various locations throughout England. The venues are chosen by the host Club. Strict 5-a-side rules apply and the standard is very high. There is also a separate League for Blind Players. The Everton VI Squad have competed in the League for two seasons, since their formation. In their first season they finished a respectable third in Division 2. This was not good enough for promotion, and certainly left a lot of room for improvement. The Squad host regular training sessions at the Power League venue in Walton, Liverpool. With the excellent coaching and guidance of, Everton In The Community Coach, Mark Elliot, the squad has certainly improved overall and this has certainly helped the team in their bid to gain promotion. And this is exactly what they have done. In their second season in Division 2, they have finished as Champions, finishing a record breaking 22 points ahead of second place with a goal difference of 84.George Ferguson was voted Player of the Year for Division 2.
The team were introduced to the Everton faithful at the half-time interval of the Everton v Blackburn Rovers match on 28th April 2002, at Goodison Park. This was a brilliant experience for all of the Everton V.I. Squad and the players received an amazing reception from the crowd. A week or so before the Squad went onto the hallow turf; they competed in a 7-a-side Cup Tournament in South Shields. Competing against First and Second Division opposition. Remarkably, they did not concede a goal in open play throughout the tournament, and were eventually beaten in the final, after extra time (golden goal). This was against the First Division Winners (Loughborough), and they could only beat Everton in a 4-3 penalty shoot-out to steal the Cup. The start of next season, in the First Division, October 2002, will see the Squad compete at various venues, (Pride Park, Hereford, London, South Shields, Manchester, Birmingham, Bridgend and Bristol), and will see the team compete in over 30 games in the League. This will give the lads a chance to test themselves against the Leagues best and they will definitely wish to show themselves proud, wearing the blue shirt of Everton. (21/05/02) INTERNATIONALS
The Partially Sighted England Squad are getting ready for their World Championships in Italy, September 2002. They qualified for these in their 2nd European Championships, also in Paris, June 2001. Previous to that, both Squads have competed against Europe's best in various tournaments. The Partially Sighted Squad came back from the 1st European Championships in Belarus October 1999, with a bronze medal. Everton VI Captain, George Ferguson has been an International Player, in the England Partially Sighted Squad for over six years, along side his twin brother Michael who plays for George's old team, Inter Cosmos. They are both very hopeful and confident of their chances in future International Tournaments. (21/05/02) RECRUITMENT FOR BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PLAYERS Everton
also have a Blind Football Team under their wing and they are trying
to recruit new players. If you are a Blind or Partially Sighted person/player, or you know of somebody who has a visual impairment, and they are interested in getting involved in VI football, then please do not hesitate in contacting the following: George Ferguson
(Club Rep & Captain) Everton V I F.C. Fixtures 2003-04 What do you think? E-mail Blue Kipper Discuss this on the Message Board Jogger's Snapshots | Young Toffees| Sting Ray | Sausage's SandwichesCod Pieces | Captain Haddock | Look-A-Likes | Tomorrow's Chip Papers Top Toffee Ale 'ouses| Home |
