NFA Ability Counts is a league for male and female footballers with a disability over the age of 16. After launching the NFA Ability Counts league in September 2024, Northumberland FA is excited to be bringing the league to the new St Peter’s Sports Hub in 2025.

The league is free for teams to enter and participate in, with 5-a-side and 7-a-side matches played across different Team Categories on Saturday mornings every fortnight. Kick-offs from 10am – 12pm.

The league has been developed with an ethos in mind:

To provide regular opportunities for disabled players to play football in organised competition pathways, to maximise enjoyment of the game and facilitate the associated physical, mental, and social health benefits of sport.

This fits in with feedback had from players who wanted more football throughout the year.

Following a block of fixtures between September and December 2024, to kickstart NFA Ability Counts at the new St Peter’s Sports Hub, The St Peter’s Cup will run bi-weekly from Saturday 8^th February to 5^th April.

Teams will play fixtures within Team Categories, and accumulate points towards the St Peter’s Cup over the 5 Matchdays:

• Team attends Matchday = +3pts
• Team wins fixture = +3pts
• Team draws fixture = +1pt
• Cup Points Total = Points awarded ÷ No of fixtures played

The team with the highest Cup Points Total in each Category will be the Category winner, and the team with the highest Cup Points Total across all categories will be the St Peter’s Cup winner.

Formats:

Category 1 & 2 Teams: 7v7

Category 3 Teams: 5v5

Category Banding:

Category 1: players able to cope physically, good levels of spatial awareness, excellent ability to understand tactics and good level of physical strength and fitness.

Category 2: players would be mobile, have spatial and tactical awareness, knowledge of the laws of the game and have a good level of fitness.

Category 3: players would have limited mobility, spatial awareness and fitness.

Category banding will be based on the ethos of the league and therefore at the discretion of the Club who have affiliated the Team. As, particularly in the early stages of NFA Ability Counts, there may be some differences in team’s levels, the ‘Super Sub’ rule will be used. This means a team who goes 3 goals behind can put on an additional player.

To provide sufficient playing opportunities while the league grows, teams may be given fixtures with teams from a different team category.

To enter a team, please complete the Team Entry Form.

Entry Deadline to play in Matchday 1 is Tuesday 4^th February.

For more information, please contact Development@northumberlandfa.com.

Following the NFA Ability Counts St Peter’s Cup, there will be another summer competition played over May and June.

Address: St Peter’s Sports Hub, St Peter’s Road, Wallsend, NE28 7BF

Getting Here:

• Free Car Parking available on site.
• Nearest Bus Stop is ‘Coast Road – St Peter’s Road’ – 1min walk from Bus Stop

• Nearest Metro is Hadrian Road Station – 15-20min walk from Metro Station