No sport brings out more joy and emotion or reaches a broader section of society than football – and the game is at its beautiful best when it comes to para and disability football.

Whether it’s powerchair players or the visually impaired, amputees or those playing with Asperger's, opportunities are opening up across our four home nations like never before.

While Covid might be making life tricky right now, the good news is that disability football is only set to grow once through the other side - thanks to one of the most ambitious sponsorship strategies in UK football.

From grassroots through to elite level, BT is committed to changing the lives of millions across the UK through football and technology by investing not only in the men’s and women’s teams, but the para and disability squads that perform on the global stage.

Its 4-3-3 strategy is backing our FOUR home nations to focus on the THREE areas most in need of support - grassroots, women’s and disability football – with THREE commitments to make a meaningful difference by improving skills, raising profiles and enabling innovation.

In line with International Day of People with Disabilities on 3rd December, BT are on a mission to transform the profile and understanding of para and disability football in the UK - raising awareness, increasing support and inspiring future talent. You can join in by using #DiscoverDisabilityFootball.

To encourage you to get involved, here we meet six characters involved in disability football who are already proving an inspiration...

DYLAN McCREADY, Goalkeeper, Linfield disability team, Belfast

There are few bigger thrills for a goalkeeper than saving the winning spot-kick in a penalty shoot-out – and it’s a feeling Belfast’s Dylan McCready knows only too well.

The 26-year-old stopper was the hero as Glentoran Inclusion lifted the George Best Community Cup in 2016, and it was a reminder of just how far he’d come in the sport.

Diagnosed with autism at the age of seven, Dylan struggled with communication skills and became anxious in large social settings.

It led his dad, Colin, to seek an environment that could encourage Dylan and other youngsters with similar conditions to build confidence, self-esteem, general fitness and a new group of friends.

Dylan started in disability football at Belvoir Blades Disability Football Club in the city and with the support of his coaches discovered a flair for goalkeeping. As his confidence grew, his talent between the sticks shone.

“He never misses training, has come on leaps and bounds and has even come out of his shell a wee bit,” Colin says. “Disability football has changed Dylan’s life in such a positive way. He’s focused, gaining confidence all the time and enjoying playing the game he loves”

Dylan was selected to play in the IFA Disability League and cup competitions, and continued to progress as mighty Glentoran took over running the Belvoir Blades. When his boyhood heroes Linfield started a disability team of their own six months ago, he jumped at the chance to move across the city to play for the club he supports.

It might be a team game, but Dylan has also picked up several individual awards along the way, the latest being the Football For All Player of the Year 2020. “It is richly deserved,” Irish FA disability & inclusion manager Alan Crooks says. “I have watched him develop over the years into a top goalkeeper.”

REBECCA SELLAR, footballer, Scotland amputee team

"I was drawn to amputee football because it meant putting the prosthetic to one side,” Rebecca Sellar explains. “To play when I felt most vulnerable felt strange at first, but I wanted to push myself and learn more about being independent."

Having been born without a right fibula, Rebecca has been a single-leg amputee since the age of one, suffering severe back and hip pain as a result.

But the 28-year-old who lives near Edinburgh, and is also a tennis international and coach, was determined her disability wouldn’t prevent her playing sport.

"It got to the stage where I was finding it difficult to walk anywhere," she says. "I didn't have anything I could get out and do without suffering for it the next day. I was standing doing the dishes one day and I was shaking with fatigue.

“That was the moment where I thought, 'we have to change direction here, something has to give'. That was when I tried football."

Rebecca won her first cap for Scotland's amputee team in 2017 - where at one time she was the only woman on the squad.

“I'm so proud that I actually got to wear the kit and play for this country," she says. “Football helped me become more resilient, happier, and determined to overcome challenges. My team-mates all have slightly different stories and we all bounce off one another. We are like family.”

The Scottish FA is also on a journey to create a structure for para football to rival its mainstream equivalents.

As well as backing the amputee teams which bring genders together, it’s supporting the national deaf, cerebral palsy and Powerchair squads.

Last year it created Scottish Para-Football, which became the World’s First Affiliated National Association dedicated to people living with a Disability.

STEVE DALEY, head coach and former captain, England partially sighted team

Not many footballers look back on an 8-0 thrashing with fond recollections, but for Steve Daley it started an international journey that would end 23 years later by playing in back-to-back World Cup finals.

The captain-turned-coach of England’s partially sighted squad hung up his futsal boots for the final time last year, but now aged 44 looks forward to encouraging the next generation to follow in his footsteps.

“In my last game I played with a 16-year-old,” says the county council worker from Preston. “My job now is to bring young people through the system to have the experience I had – and maybe even better.”

Born in Belfast, Steve had aspirations of turning professional, starring for Glentoran as a teen before, with failing eye-sight, he was diagnosed with cone dystrophy, a rare eye condition where colour and detail is lost. “I was struggling to see the ball in the air and had to hold books a little closer in the classroom,” he says.

From there he moved to study at Loughborough College and was spotted to play for the England futsal team in 1995. Used to playing five-aside, the international debut was in Barcelona and the Spanish handed out a stern lesson. “We thought we were good players – they were mind-blowing,” he adds.

Made captain in 1997 and inducted into the hall of fame in 2007, Steve played in nine World Cups and nine European Championships, the pinnacle being the World Cup finals of 2017 and 2019.

“It was the highest finish I could have achieved,” he adds. “I’d have loved to have won, but we’d already started bringing the next generation through.

“When I was diagnosed I thought it was the end of the world and I’d never play again. But I can flip that on its head now because being partially sighted has meant I played

143 international games. Now, I’m a bit wiser, I’m thankful.”

As he steps into the role as head coach he’s also hoping to go one better on the world stage. The dad-of-two was recently named in Queen’s Honours list and is looking forward to picking up his MBE for services to para and disability football in the spring.

“It’s a great honour,” he says. “But I’ve always believed that as much as I want to develop players, I need to develop people first.”

GARMON EDWARDS-JONES, midfielder, Henllan FC, Denbighshire, Wales

When Garmon is breaking up opposition attacks in his role as a holding midfielder for Henllan FC, he just looks like any normal 12-year-old enjoying his football.

To a large extent that’s true, but Garmon is also playing with sight akin to night vision and for years has been mastering the technique that allows him to thrive in mainstream football.

Determined that he would be able to play with friends like any normal child, Garmon’s dad, Gerwyn, signed his five-year-old son up to Kinmel Bay FC's Visually Impaired Group.

Garmon spent four seasons honing his football skills, and with the patience and dedication paying off, Gerwyn, started an Under 10’s team in their local village, Henllan FC.

It’s not always straightforward. There are times when Garmon finds it challenging to gauge the position of the ball in flight. However, he’s developed to be one of the most competent players in his team to the point where he was and recently honoured at the annual FAW Grassroots Football Awards.

“I would like to congratulate Garmon on his achievements over the past few seasons,” says FAW Trust technical director Dr David Adams. “His attitude, dedication and development within the game is truly inspirational, and this has not only been recognised by his peers and coaches, but by a national judging panel of experts.

“Our inclusive approach to football in Wales has seen an increase in boys and girls with a disability accessing mainstream football, and our level one coach education course has recently been updated to include a ‘Football for all’ module that is designed to give football coaches and teachers ideas and practices for the inclusion of disabled football players, whether in mainstream or impairment-specific sessions.”

BEV & JOHN CHALLINOR, volunteers and coaches, Spennymoor FC, Bishop Auckland

When it comes to being team players, Bev and John Challinor would be top of any league.

Take a trip to Spennymoor FC and Sunderland fan Bev will be cleaning up muddy boots and making hot cuppas, while husband and Liverpool supporter John will be carrying out the coaching duties.

Both BT staff members are part of the 4-3-3 squad, a volunteer support group made up of other BT colleagues working to encourage grassroots involvement, and firm believers that sport should be totally inclusive and open to everyone – and so the next goal is to set up a disability team at the club.

“I already enjoy setting up get-togethers for the parents, Christmas parties for the kids and keeping the coaches organised,” Bev says. “Covid has made us realise how important football is to us as a family. It’s a shared interest we can all do together.”

“Bev makes my life a lot easier, keeping me in check, noting down goalscorers or who is coming on or off” says John, who has been coaching for 15 years and helped the couple’s two boys, 19-year-old Luke and 10-year old Aston, progress through the ranks.

The launch of the disability side is the next step to push that inclusivity one step further. “I’m really looking forward to it,” John says. “It’s football for all and a great opportunity to bring more players onboard.”

MARCUS HARRISON, England Powerchair footballer, Liverpool

“It was quite a special day for me,” Marcus Harrison explains. “I managed to score both goals, then the final penalty – and I won the golden boot. My best day ever in football.”

Marcus is an England Powerchair international and reliving the moment last year when the Three Lions finally defeated France to win the European Championships after fighting back from 2-0 down in the final to triumph on penalties.

It was sweet revenge as two years earlier Marcus and England had finished third in the World Cup, having twice been beaten by the French – and it underlined the resilient spirit the 22-year-old has displayed throughout his life.

Born with congenital muscular dystrophy, Marcus refuses to be limited by the condition. Although he needs 24/7 care, he lives in his own flat and has earned a degree in science & football from Liverpool John Moores University.

“I’ve three brothers and three sisters, and mum and dad always pushed me to be as independent as I can be,” he says. “My dad has taken me everywhere for football. He’s my biggest supporter and was quite emotional after we won the Euros.”

Greenbank Sports Academy in Liverpool provided the environment for Marcus to progress from boccia to Powerchair hockey to football.

“I loved it from when I first started,” he says. “I found the skills I had from hockey transferred across really well. I’ve always been competitive, enjoyed playing team sport and have met some of my best friends through football.”

Having played for Everton and Bolton, Marcus is now with West Brom. The highlight being a runner-up finish in the 2016 Champions League as Marcus won player of the tournament.

“That was a big confidence boost,” he says. “I’ve gained confidence along the way and I think it was part of the reason I ended up studying at university.”

BT are on a mission to transform the profile and understanding of Para & Disability football in the UK raising awareness, increasing support and inspiring future talent. Find out more at www.bt.com/homenations. Join us and show your support using #DiscoverDisabilityFootball