Ipswich Town Foundation’s frame football team have revamped walking aids after partnership with Suffolk New College
A team of children who require walking aids to help them play football can do so in style thanks to the efforts of college students.
Pupils on vehicle-related courses at Suffolk New College revamped walking frames used by the Ipswich Town Foundation’s frame football team.
This involved the students scrubbing them before giving them a fresh lick of paint.
The new designs were handed over to the players earlier in the season, and both the frame team’s coach, Eoin McNamee and the Ipswich Town Foundation’s director Dan Palfrey came down to thank them.
One of the frame team’s star players is 5-year-old Cooper Leatherey, from Ipswich – who loved the new design of his walking aid.
Cooper said: “Football is my favourite sport and I support Ipswich. I like the colours of my frame. I’m happy the students painted it blue and white.”
Cooper’s mum, Sarah, said: “It’s given him the same playing level as everyone else in terms of balance and co-ordination. I think it’s wonderful that the students did this. The fact they wanted to take part in this project is huge.”
Coach Eoin McNamee revealed the frame team officially became part of the club’s foundation two months ago.
They wore the colours of the squad’s main kit, so they could feel like a part of the same team, he said.
Eoin added: “It’s great to have a link with the college and get the students involved. Their work is impeccable and it’s heartening to see the pride in the faces of the students when they saw the youngsters using the frames.”
Suffolk New College revealed there were already plans for future projects between the institute and the team.
Examples of future project could include murals, it noted.
One of the pupils who took part in the project was 18-year-old Connor Cobbold, a level three accident repair student.
An avid Ipswich Town fan, he said he was privileged to have taken part.
Connor added: “We got the frames, stripped all the paint off and repainted them in the ITFC colours. I feel privileged to have been given this opportunity to help these children.”