The Sussex Disability Football League worked together with Deian Prescott, a young boy with a disability and his family to raise money for their chosen charity, Shine.

Deian is a very passionate junior football player who plays for Albion in the Community and also takes part in the Sussex Disability Football League each month. 

The football charity event took place at our headquarters in Lancing and raised £260.60 in total from the day.

The chosen charity, Shine provides specialist support pre-birth and beyond for anyone living with the condition spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and to families, careers and professional care staff. Deian’s mum, Catherine said: “It is brilliant we are able to work with the Sussex Disability Football League to help raise money for such an important charity.”

The charity enables people to get the best out life and Catherine said: “Shine has supported Deian and our family for the past eight years and have always been supportive of Deians’s development through sports."

Simon Roe, our official photographer, has been along to the Sussex Disability Football League fixtures on several occasions and has taken some excellent action shots of Deian celebrating scoring goals.

One snapshot in particular of Deian celebrating scoring a goal caught the attention of a number of people on social media and is now a fantastic keepsake for Deian and his family.

Since seeing the delight that the action shot of Deian celebrating brought to people, Simon decided to present him with his very own framed photo that was signed by Brighton & Hove Albion footballer Glenn Murray. Glenn is Deian’s favourite player as he wears the number seventeen shirt and that is his birth-date.

Referee Elle Kaplicz has also been hugely supportive of the Sussex Disability Football League and officiated at the fundraising event.

Since the charity match, Elle has registered for a 10k run in order to raise money for Shine UK with Deian and children with the same disability being the reasoning behind her motivation.

Sussex Disability Football League secretary, Jade Harker said: “Deian is a delight to watch play football, seeing the pure joy on his face when plays make the league feel so worthwhile.

“Seeing the photograph that Simon took of Deian celebrating his goal was just fantastic, a picture can say a thousand words and this one certainly does!

“It was a pleasure to assist Deian’s family to raise money for the charity and I am thrilled that this work is being continued by one of our very own referees, good luck Elle.”

To find out more about Disability Football in Sussex please contact Development:

Development 
T: 01903 766855
E: Development@SussexFA.com