Two Leicester-based businesses have shown their support to the local community in recent weeks. Jimmy Sehmi from the EL Group and Paul Velinski from The Trophy Parlour both attended the launch of two combined football projects, A Vision for a Goal – Every Player Counts, at the County FA’s Holmes Park headquarters on Thursday January 14th.

The aim of the joint initiative is to enable more people with sensory, learning, physical, behavioural or mental health impairments or disabilities to become more involved in football.

A Vision for a Goal is led by the Leicestershire & Rutland Inclusive Football Partnership and County FA and funded primarily by the Football Foundation. Every Player Counts, led by Leicester City Football in the Community Trust is primarily funded by the Littlewoods New Football Pools and supported by the Football League Trust.

As passionate football fan and Leicester City supporter, Jimmy Sehmi, who includes EL Construction in his business portfolio, is well aware of how the beautiful game can engage with the community and is keen to look into helping the initiative.

“These days it’s not just about the football, it’s about the community and local business. Since the Premier League started it has brought football to the masses. Football’s not just about working class men now, it’s about getting the whole community involved, people from every social background and it’s a leveller. On match day the players are all equals.

“We try to get involved with schools and clubs around the county. It’s about giving up time as well as finance and it’s great to get involved as much as possible and get that feel good factor.”

Jimmy and EL also gave their backing to Huncote Primary School this week by donating a shed for the school grounds. Pupils will now run a tuck shop they have designed from the new shed. Former Leicester City defender Matt Elliott joined Jim to open the tuck shop.

Paul Velinski from The Trophy Parlour, who specialise in trophies, medals, engraving and sporting memorabilia, was delighted to attend the A Vision for a Goal – Every Player Counts event and hopes to be involved with the county FA in the future.

“I think it’s brilliant what they’re doing for people with disabilities. Through our association with Steve Walsh we are going to try to supply their trophies and get Walshy involved with presenting trophies as much as possible. Initiatives like these are a great for sport in Leicestershire and Rutland.”

Mary Rudkin, the Disability Football Development Officer for Leicestershire and Rutland Inclusive Football Partnership, plays a major role in disabled football across the county and is hoping that the launch of these two initiatives will capture the imagination of local businesses.

“It’s been great to make contact with new people today and that’s what it’s all about. We want everybody to tell people out there about the work we do, to come on board and help provide even more opportunities to the players. It’s all about having fun, everybody helping each other and giving that little bit extra.”

Laurence Jones, Chief Executive of Leicestershire and Rutland FA, is also looking for local support for the initiatives to ensure that Mary’s excellent work can continue.

“Funding is very tight from the centre of football at the moment. Part of the launch is about raising awareness and hopefully people seeing the good work that’s going on, taking messages away from here and for us to receive the funding to keep it going.

“From a county football point of view we want to be a total football provider and the disability aspect is key to that. The challenge will be making it sustainable and we need financial support to maintain and grow. Initiatives like this are a massive part of the future development of the FA and the work that people like Mary do is so important.”

For more information about the A Vision for a Goal – Every Player Counts initiative, please contact Mary Rudkin, the Disability Football Development Officer for Leicestershire and Rutland Inclusive Football Partnership on 0116 2844952 or e-mail mary.rudkin@leicestershirefa.com.