The charity, which Chad has supported throughout 2007, awarded Nottinghamshire Powerchair Football Club £10,000 to help buy a new chair and trailer for transportation.

Based in Mansfield, the club is an entirely independent team set up in 2005 and now being run by the players, their parents and carers.

Said club secretary Ricky Stevenson: "Nottinghamshire Powerchair Football Club is the only club in Nottinghamshire and is the only independent one which isn't associated to a normal football team.

'Equipment'

"We have been running for around two years but we haven't had all of the equipment we need to be operating how we want.

"It is not just jumpers for goal posts like football, for this you need proper chairs and equipment to go play matches.

"We often go to national events and have to borrow chairs for our players to use but we need quality ones of our own and they cost around £4,000 each."

The club regularly trains at Forest Town's Garibaldi College and is part of the Wheelchair Football Association's national league, with a team playing in both divisions.

Around 12 players attend training sessions and take part in matches and tournaments –– but they only have eight chairs between them, which are also not capable of going at the high speeds which will help them win games.

Ricky says the club has carried out its own fundraising to cover the high costs of chairs and equipment but money from NCF has helped them cover some of the expenses.

"The money from NCF will pay for one of the better chairs and a trailer to move everything between games," he said.

"We have been running for two years and without this funding we would be waiting another two years to get where we want to be.

"This club offers so much for the people who are part of it and has helped them feel part of something and make new friends. We are always looking for new players and people to get involved in all aspects of the club."

To find out more about the club visit www.thewfa.org.uk and search under clubs –– where contact details are available for Ricky and the team.