Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland

After an early flight the squad arrived to the team hotel at 11am. A phone call was received in which the team were invited to the Spurs training ground to watch the senior team train. The team spent two hours there where they were looked after by Spurs personnel. When training was finished Robbie Keane along with other first team members took part in a photo shoot and agreed to sign autographs for the CP squad members. Robbie wished all the players the best of luck for the games the next day.

Next was our arranged meeting with the pupils of Emmerson Park School where the players met staff and students with varing disabilities where they took part in a question and answers session. When school finished the Cerebral Palsy squad arrived at Whitehart Lane sports complex were they trained for two hours. After that it was back to the hotel for dinner and early to bed.

The next day all the squad were up early for breakfast and off to play the matches. When we arrived to the venue we were met by Tottneham foundation staff. When the Irish CP coaching staff arrived they were requested to give a training session to the Tottenham CP football teams which they were very happy to do. At the end of the session the more serious games took place where the Irish won the two games 5-0 and then 2-0.

At the end of the games we organised a game between the very young players from Tottenham and mixed in some of our smaller boys as it was mixed teams no score was taken. This was a great success. At the end of the day we were introduced to the shadow minister for people with disabilities Mark Harper who along with James Isacc (Tottenham Hotspur) and Tony Vines (Emerson spurs CP Football) went to great lengths to thank the Irish Coaching staff for the coaching session earlier that day and wished the players from both teams all the best for the future.

On behalf fo the players and staff fo the Republic of Ireland CP Development Squad, let me take this opportunity to thank CPSI and the FAI for their continued support. Special mention to Oisin Jordan FAI, John Fallon FAI, and Paul Cassin CPSI.

Stephen Mc Gillivary

Junior Development Manager