A Carlisle father-of-four who turned his life around and set up a disability football team for his son, who has cerebral palsy, is hoping to launch a football coach training programme for people with disabilities.

Paul Allen, who set up Carlisle Reivers Inclusive Football with the help of the Cumberland FA, is now waiting to be given the green light by the FA to launch the new football coaching programme.

Four iPads and a Mac Book have already been secured with £2,021 from the ClubsInCrisis Fund to support the programme should it go ahead.

Paul said part of his drive and passion for helping to develop opportunities in disability football came after he was told by a doctor that he wouldn't reach the age of 40 if he didn't make changes to his life-style

"Now that I've seen how many people that we have coming down [to the disability football] on a regular basis and what we provide for them, I couldn't imagine not doing it," said Paul.

"It's my life. I look forward to training every week.

 

Paul’s son, Josh, who was the inspiration behind starting up a disability football team

Paul’s son, Josh, who was the inspiration behind starting up a disability football team

 

"A number of years ago, when I was 36, I was told that if I carried on the way I was going - I was severely over-weight, I was knocking on 34 stone and I could hardly move anywhere - that I wouldn't hit 40 and that I wouldn't see my kids grow up.

"When you get told things like that, you put things into perspective.

"Before that, I'd had a breakdown and attempted suicide.

"I got therapy and I worked through it.

"A few years ago, it hit me and I thought, 'I want to live' and I wanted to be there for my family and do things for the community and that is what I'm about now.

"When you get told that there's a good chance that you're not going to live and when you have attempted suicide and then realise that you do want to be here, you want to leave a legacy.

"That's what I'm trying to do."

Paul is again working with the Cumberland FA to get the football coaching programme off the ground and said he hopes to be able use his father-in-law's shop - Denton Memorials in Carlisle - as a base.

 

Family business: (Ledt to right) Denton Memorials Managing Director, Tony Box; grandchildren, Lydia and Thomas; and Operations Director, Paul Allen

Family business: (Ledt to right) Denton Memorials Managing Director, Tony Box; grandchildren, Lydia and Thomas; and Operations Director, Paul Allen

 

Helping people with disabilities to access opportunities like football coaching can help them to feel like they can play a part in "leading society" as well as being a part of it, according to Paul.

He added: "It's great to support disabled people in society and a lot of charities provide a lot services, like helping people with their shopping.

"For me, it's about going that one step extra. I want people to feel that they don't just have to be part of society - they can help lead society as well.

"Just because you have got a disability, it doesn't mean that you can't."

Paul also hopes that Cumbria can be a county that leads the way in providing opportunities in football for people with disabilities.

 

Paul Allen of Carlisle Reivers Inclusive Football

Paul Allen of Carlisle Reivers Inclusive Football

 

He said: "We've got the passion, drive and experience through the Cumberland FA and coaches like myself.

"We've got a few clubs around the county now that have disability teams.

"There's no reason why we can't be leaders in [disability football]. There has always been the excuse that because we're that far away from London, no one notices us.

"For me that's not an excuse. It's challenge accepted."

Help can be found by calling the Samaritans, free at any time, on 116 123, or by emailing jo@samaritans.org or visiting Samaritans.org.

To keep up with Carlisle Reivers Inclusive Football, follow them on Facebook.

You can also find out more on their website at www.carlislereiversdisabilityfc.co.uk.