Disability footballers work with England keepeer David James
To visit the Cheshire Academy web site go to www.disabilitysport.com
David James with Ben Welch (left) and Bradi Minshull (right)
Two players from the "Blue Blazers" disability football club had the thrill of a lifetime when they were asked to star in a special football video with David James the England goal keeper.

The video was being produced to promote disability football within Special Olympics and the "Blue Blazers", as one of the top disability football clubs within Special Olympics was asked to bring two of its goal keepers.

The two lucky team members were 8 year old Bradi Minshull, who attends Wistaston Green School in Crewe, and 13 year old Ben Welch who attends Oakland school in Winsford. Both are members of South and East Cheshire Special Olympics team selected to represent the North west of England at the 7th National Special Olympic Games to be held in Glasgow during July 2005

The players were whisked off to manchester under strictest secrecy and were filmed by an international film Crewe who had already filmed in Monacco and Ireland. The whole event was organised by Special Olympics International and the video is expected to go on World Wide release to over 160 different countries to promote disability football within the special Olympic movement.

David James spent over 3 hours training and coaching the young keepers, demonstrating and showing special goal keeping skills from beginner level up to advanced level with the film crewe recording the results.

David James withBlue Blazers coach Neil Phillips (left) and Jane Whetnall (assistant mamager)
Coach Neil Phillips, who as well as being the Blue Blazers football coach is also special Olympics North West Football coordinator was very impressed with the training session, and by the way that David James approached and worked with the disabled children.

"Davis James was just wonderful with the footballers. He passed on all his ideas and experiences about how to goal keep and encouraging them and spurring them on to improve their skills. He was totally relaxed and natural with the disabled youngsters and is truely a great ambassador fot the Special Olympic movement."

David James admitted that he was impressed with the professionalism of the youngsters being filmed.

"the players put their heart and sole into the training sessions and never let up even for a moment. It is obvious that they have been receiving good coaching and training with their club and they are a great credit to disability football and to Special Olympics as a whole"

Ben Welch told everyone on his return that he has 'magic hands'. At the beginning of the training session Ben realised to his horror that he had left his goal keeping gloves back at home, but this turned out to be no problem. Davis James simply peeled off his own goal keeping gloves and gave them to Ben to wear. Needless to say very few goals were let in that day..