England Learning Disabilities team
The England Learning Disabilities (LD) team is one of eight disability squads supported by the Football Association.[1] To qualify for the team, players must have an intellectual disability with an IQ equal to or below 70-75, as determined by the World Health Organisation. The players must also have been in receipt of special education, employment and/or respite care between the ages of 0-18.[2]
The England LD team won the Learning Disabilities World Cup at the INAS World Football Championships in 2002, beating Holland 2-1 at the Yokohama Stadium, Japan, in August 2002.[3] They reached the final of the Learning Disabilities European Championships in August 2003, when they were beaten 2-1 by Holland in Portugal.[4] They were crowned world champions at the first Global Games in August 2004, beating Poland 4-1 in the final in Bollnäs, Sweden.[5] The World Cup holders however crashed out of the quarter finals of the INAS FID World Football Championship in 2006, losing 4-1 to Saudi Arabia in Recklinghausen, Germany.[6]
References
- ↑ "England Disability Teams". The FA. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ "England ready for title defence". BBC Sport. 2006-08-30. Retrieved 2008-02-04. (Final two paragraphs).
- ↑ Davies, Jeff (2002-08-25). "England LD's are top of the World". The FA. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ "Disappointment for England". BBC Sport. 2003-08-13. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ "England win Global Games title". BBC Sport. 2004-08-03. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ "World Cup defence ends". The FA. 2006-09-11. Retrieved 2008-02-04.