This weekend marks the first fixture of the new Social Inclusion Wellbeing League Cumberland division.
The league is designed for teams from a wellbeing/social background, who want to play fixtures against similar teams locally.
With the focus being social inclusion, the league offers those with little to no access to a competitive football a provision to suit their needs and to support those with their mental health while using the power of football.
The Cumberland division has 6 entries with three teams entering on a recreational basis:
- Tubby FC (Whitehaven)
- Carlisle Reivers (Carlisle)
- Border City Greens (Carlisle)
- Carlisle City Deaf (Carlisle)
- Clear Your Head Kick About (Whitehaven)
- Hilltop FC (Carlisle)
The format of the league is flexible, with either 9v9 or 11v11. Match lengths will be between 60 and 90 minutes. Teams have benefited from entry funding and support.
The league is for mental health teams; teams from a wellbeing background (eg weight loss); Players with physical health referrals; Recreational/social teams; Small sided teams; Social inclusion teams – for example Homelessness, Service Veterans or LGBTQ+.
But it is not for teams or players already playing regularly in a traditional Saturday/Sunday/veterans league.
The league also has mixed dispensation for players of any gender to participate.
Ray Sempill, Cumberland FA’s football development officer, said: “We have been delighted at the response to this league with ten teams expressing an interest in the first season at various levels. We look forward to getting started and seeing how this provision develops.”
