The England Talent Team are coming to Reading FC’s Madejski Stadium to give disabled footballers, aged 7-16 years old the opportunity to showcase their skills in a bid to start their journey to become an England international.

Berks & Bucks FA, Hampshire FA, Middlesex FA, Oxfordshire FA and Surrey FA, in partnership with Reading FC and The Saints Foundation, are hosting this year’s England Talent Day event on Saturday 30 May from 9:30am-12pm. 

The two-hour football session will include a series of practices and games delivered by specialist coaches, all overseen by the England Talent Team. Following the England Talent Day, players may then be selected and invited to join their respective impairment specific Regional Talent Hubs for the season.

England Talent Day 2020 (Event Details)

Day: Saturday 30 May 2020
Location: Reading FC, Madejski Stadium, RG2 0FL
Start Time: 10am-12pm (Players to arrive from 9.30am)

The day offers players the opportunity that very few will ever experience. By entering the stadium through the players’ entrance and registering in the players’ lounge, players will then use Reading FC’s home changing room facilities before moving down the tunnel to play on Reading FC’s first team pitch players to round off an England Talent Day like no other.

Players will be split into two age groups; 7 to 11-years-old and 12 to 16-years-old. Registered players must be eligible within one of the following impairment groups:

• Amputee (Lower or Upper limb)
• Blind (B1)
• Deaf or Hearing Impaired (male and female)
• Cerebral Palsy or Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
• Partially Sighted (B2/B3)
• Powerchair (please note that the Powerchair Talent Day will take place on an alternative date, more information will be sent to registered powerchair participants).

If you want to know more about the England Talent Pathway, how grassroots coaches can help scout the next England International and what players can expect at an England Talent Day event then check out ‘The Grassroots Football Coach’ podcast. 

A special episode of the Berks & Bucks FA coaching podcast featuring host Mark Rivers, Mike Nolan (England Talent Team), Martin Sinclair and Jack Rutter (both Ex-England Cerebral Palsy Internationals) has been recorded specifically to celebrate the England Talent Day. 

You can listen to this bonus episode by clicking clicking here or by searching for ‘The Grassroots Football Coach’ on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more…

We have even more exciting developments to be announced in the coming weeks so follow Oxfordshire FA’s social media platforms for more information. Registered players will be the first to hear these exciting developments so register below to hear these announcements first.

If you wish to register for the England Talent Day, or know a player who may be suitable, please follow the link by clicking here