New football club aims to give SEND children a love of the game

A unique football club has started in Tameside.

Michael Beckett started Sendsational Soccer to facilitate children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities [SEND]

Since first starting in June, the club has grown in numbers and currently has over 20 members attending their sessions.

Mr Beckett said: “If you take kids with additional needs to other clubs they are looked at with an eye of judgement, which is why I had this idea and I put an FB post and seeing the positive response I decided to start the club.”

The 37-year-old is an FA-qualified coach and he revealed his motivation to start the club came from his son, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD and autism.

He said: “Being an SEN parent myself, it gives experience to help understand what other parents and children are going through.’’

Sendsational soccer currently runs its sessions on Sundays at the Haughton Green Young Peoples Centre in Denton.

“We want to make our sessions fun and in a safe and friendly environment where all the children can learn and socialise free from any judgement and discrimination,” said Beckett. 

The club has received a lot of love from its members due to the atmosphere during the sessions.

One of the parents said: “My son absolutely loves his sessions at SENDsational soccer it’s such a friendly safe space where he can interact with others and have fun.

“It’s lovely because its not noisy and overwhelming.

“We have been looking for something like this for ages and he really does get excited all week to go back on Sunday morning.”

Sendsational Soccer runs two separate sessions for children under and over the age of 10.

Anyone interested in joining the sessions could reach out to Sendsational Soccer on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or sendsationalsoccer@gmail.com.