Inclusion squads have a weekend to remember at Special Olympics GB National Games

MK Dons’ inclusion football squads returned home triumphant after representing the club badge on a national level for the first time in Birmingham over the bank holiday weekend.

Managed by MK Dons Community Trust – the football club’s official charity - MK Falcons and MK Hawks travelled up the M1 to compete at the Special Olympics GB National Games.

Held at the Alexander Stadium, host venue of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the four-day event welcomed more than 1,200 athletes competing across 15 sports including athletics, boccia, table tennis and triathlon.

Falcons were seeded into Tier One and achieved a silver medal after reaching the final, which was won by Yorkshire and Humberside. A bronze medal meanwhile was earned by the Hawks in Tier Two after they defeated Leicester 2-0 in an entertaining third place play-off.

It marked a bumper start to the inclusion squad’s 26th season of training and playing matches competitively.

Georgina Fielden, Inclusion Officer at MK Dons Community Trust, said: “In all my years working with our inclusion football squads, I can confidently say this is the best thing we have done.  

“Watching hundreds of athletes from different backgrounds and of varying abilities compete across multiple sports left me in awe of what people can achieve.

“Every week, we deal with a wide range of personal requirements among our players.

“The Games really opened our eyes regarding what we can add to our existing delivery, so everyone gets the most out of their experience.

“A huge congratulations to our players for representing the MK Dons badge admirably. We are so proud of their achievements not only on the pitch, but off it as well.

“Seeing everyone swapping badges and flags at the end of the tournament, sharing mobile numbers to help build and grow a new community and hugging new friends goodbye was a lovely moment.

“It was a fabulous weekend – a huge thank you to Pitch, Single Point Calls and to the friends and family members of our participants who helped make our attendance happen.”

Among those to represent the Dons badge on a national level for the first time was 21-year-old defender Abdul Qasim Ahmad.

Abdul even marked his National Games debut with a goal and described the opportunity as once in a lifetime.

“The experience was incredible,” said Abdul.

“I’m proud to represent MK Dons as a defender, and winning a bronze medal at the Special Olympics was an unforgettable moment for me.

“We won this medal together as a team, and we cannot thank those who have supported us enough through our journey.”

The Trust operates youth and adult sessions for players of all abilities, experience levels and backgrounds on Sunday afternoons from the club’s Woughton on the Green training headquarters.

Training is delivered by the Trust’s experienced FA and UEFA qualified coaches who support players’ physical and mental wellbeing, and their life prospects too.

“We never place an emphasis on results,” said Georgina.

“But to return home with silver and bronze medals is something our players and the city can be incredibly proud of.

“It’s fuelled everyone’s appetite for the new season.

“To anyone thinking of joining our inclusion football sessions, we’d love to hear from you.”

Anyone interested in joining MK Dons’ inclusion football squad can email information@mkdonscommunitytrust.com. Youth sessions (five to 16) start at 1.30pm, with two dedicated adult sessions also happening at 3pm and 4.30pm. Each session lasts for 90 minutes.