Apr 14, 2010
FIPFA Communications Commission P R E S S R E L E A S E for immediate release
Aspire Powerchair Football Club (England)
Club Montauban Handisport (France)
Northern Thunder (England)
MECS Charleroi (Belgium)
Arhus (Denmark)
Kerpape (France)
Sporting Club Albion (England)
Villeneuve d’Ascq (England)
POWERCHAMPION’S LEAGUE: Montauban Leading Club in Europe
Stoke Mandeville, England. 11 April 2010 Montauban (France) won the FIPFA European Zone club championships in a final match against Charleroi (Belgium), played at historic Stoke Mandeville Stadium, first home of the Paralympic Movement. A final match result of 1-0 crowned a weekend of intense play for the leading clubs of Europe from the four nations participating. A large crowd of supporters, partners and sponsors were spellbound by top class performance from eight squads, including top player Ludovic Paulot From Montauban. Newcastle Northern Thunder was honoured with the fairplay award.
Clubs of Villeneuve d’Ascq (France) and Kerpape (France) took third and fourth place after two days of intense pools and playoffs also featuring London Aspire (England), Newcastle Norther Thunder (England), Sporting Club Albion (England) and Aarhus (Denmark) in a total of 18 breathtaking matches.
“This is the second championship organised by the European Powerchair Football Association”, said Ricky Stevenson, European Zone President and member of the Executive Council of FIPFA, “and our first to take place under the flying flag of the International Paralympic Committee which in March 2010 gave FIPFA the status of an IPC recognised international federation.”.
“For the over 50 players and coaches, the choice of Stoke Mandeville as the venue hosted by London ASPIRE Powerchair Football Club was an emotional one, linking them directly into the history of the Paralympic Movement, as the first Paralympic Games were held here in 1948”, added Nicky Baker, ASPIRE Chairperson, “also we would like to say Thank You to the Sponsors* for their support and to the Officials, coming from as far as North America to assist in the smooth running of the event”.
In parallel with the championships, FIPFA Classification Commission organised another first; a four-day training (including a theory workshop, observation off- and on-field and a player-feedback session) for future classifiers, the officals who will be responsible in Europe for implementing the new FIPFA Classification Code currently under evaluation.
The equivalent Americas Cup will take place in Vancouver, Canada 9-10 October 2010 while the next major global powerchair football event is the World Cup at the end of October 2011 in Paris, France.
* Sponsors
Apollo Housing
Davies Sports
Cotswold Communications
Criterion Publishing
EDF
Evergreen Football Club
Invacare
MW Kellog
MyNews
Russel Athletic
Mrs Dorothy Washer
For more information:
Nicolas Dubes (French, English) Communications@fifpa.org +33663433505 or Ricky Stevenson (English) ricky@thewfa.co.uk
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