Fanon FC take part in European football tournament

Jun 9 2008 Submitted by Alan Parker

A GROUP of amateur footballers from a mental health group in the Midlands are taking part in their own version of the European Championships.

Birmingham City Council (Adults and Communities) support Fanon FC, a football team started to provide opportunity for adults recovering from mental health problems to participate in competitive sport.

The football sessions are regularly attended by up to 30 service users with a number moving onto Saturday afternoon football with our sister club Edgbaston United.

A party of 18 players staff and volunteers have now flown out to Austria to participate in a tournament organised by the European Association for Social Integration from June 9-13, the aim being to promote the beneifts of physical exercise to everyone with mental health issues.

Teams from across Europe will be taking part in a number of sports with football being the main event.The players have raised  money for the trip through car washing etc.

The trip is a joint venture between Birmingham City Council and the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust.

Fanon Football Club also supports service users to gain football coaching badges with the 'goal' of finding meaningful employment.