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Truly the greatest game of all

AlwaysGreen

Immortal
Messages
47,823
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019...y-league-disability-team/11107144?pfmredir=sm

A football has never been far from the hands of Dale Cameron but always out of reach.

"You know when you sometimes go through life and you find yourself not doing what you're supposed to do? I was built to be an athlete."

Dale, 33, has been lifting weights since he was a boy in an effort to manage his disability, a rare form of spinal paralysis.

Dale's upper body is pure strength.

"I've always wanted to play football, you know, that's what I was built for."

As he grew, Dale's spine began curving and twisting in unnatural ways, throwing him off balance.

His leg muscles began wasting away, denying him the chance to get on the field and play the game he loved.

Too many times he has heard the words "this game's not for you, mate", but all that changed when he was asked to join a team, ironically because of his disability
Rugby league team with a difference
The rough and tumble world of rugby league has been off-limits to those with a disability.

But a man with a vision, who happens to be legally blind, has taken a lifetime of "no" and said "yes" to those wanting to play football.

In Ballina, in northern New South Wales, Terry Litton has created a rugby league team with a difference.

While on the outside Terry looks like an ordinary bloke, his 'invisible' disability has set him on a course to change the face of this sport.

As captain of the Gold Coast Titans physical disability rugby league (PDRL) team, Terry believes "because you have a disability doesn't mean you have to be wrapped up in cotton wool".Unlike the others in the team, Terry has been playing football since he was five. From his local team at La Perouse to playing for South Sydney Football Club as an adult, Terry has lived and breathed football.

That passion went on hold in 2011 when Terry had a brain aneurysm and almost died. A craniotomy saved his life but was followed by a series of strokes and epileptic fits. Terry is now blind in one eye with only 30 per cent vision in his other eye.

After intensive rehab he returned to the game at the 2018 Commonwealth Championships, playing in one of Australia's PDRL teams.

Getting back on the grass was a joy Terry wanted to share.

"I know what it's like to play rugby league and I've seen lots of boys who have never had that opportunity," he said.

"They're the ones who come to the ground and they'll sit there and they'll watch and they're not allowed to play because of the certain disabilities they have.

"But now, this is their chance to have a go."

Running with it
It was a chance Anthony 'Anno' Pitt grabbed with both hands.Anno was born with cerebral palsy and at 10 years old he had corrective surgery.

Anno's leg muscles were stretched, wires were inserted to straighten his feet, a plate put in his hip and eight plates in his knees.

His mother Pauline Moore said Anno lives for football but faced continual rejection in his efforts to play the game.

"I remember going to the clubs and just saying 'Can Anno play?'" Ms Moore said.

"It was always 'no', and then you'd look at his face and he was just really disappointed.

"For Terry and them to turn around and fix all this up, for him it's a big, big, deal and someone's finally given him an opportunity to go and play, fulfil his dreams."

Disabled players find their field of dreams
Under Terry Litton's guidance, the new team took up residence at the Ballina Seagulls rugby league club.

The club offered its full support, helping out with coaching on training nights and providing equipment.

With the backing and blessing of their adopted parent team, the Gold Coast Titans, the Gold Coast Titans PDRL team was born.

But every football team needs a competitor, and for Terry's crew the opportunity to play — and win — came at the Lismore Koori Knockout.

The philosophy of footy
The focus of the team was that first game, but all team members knew it was about more than football.

For the parents of players, the game has helped their sons become confident young men.

The father of team member Warrajarra 'Warrior' Glew has seen his son pass from boyhood into manhood as a result of Warrior's involvement in the team.

Warrajarra was born with Down syndrome and medical complications from his disability almost ended his life twice by the age of 10.

"We thought we were gonna lose him, he died twice, that's why his nickname's Warrior, he's a little fighter," Arthur Glew said.

Only five weeks after joining the team, Warrior's family began to see the emotional benefits of the team sport.

Warrior came back from training with a new-found confidence … and even an interest in shaving after 'discovering' a few facial hairs.

Mr Glew believed his son has reached a new level of maturity, and he wanted people to rethink their views on 'disability'.

"Disability awareness is really on the rise and I am so thankful for it," he said.

"And the more people are getting aware, that makes better people out of all of us."

Standing taller
Team member Anno is also walking taller as the physical and psychological benefits of the sport become apparent.

"He's standing [better] and he's more balanced, his running's better, everything's improved," mum Pauline Moore said.

After Anno's big first game, Ms Moore beams with the joy of a mum watching her son find happiness.

"He wants more," she laughed.

The new face of rugby league
The men in this team took the ball and ran with it, living and breathing the philosophy of football.

League player and team member Todd Philpott wants you to ponder this.

"If this old bastard at over 60 with a leg missing can get out on the field, imagine what you can do with your potential," he said.

Meet the Gold Coast Titans Physical Disability rugby league Team this week on Compass.

The episode airs 6:30pm, Sunday May 26, on ABC TV.
 

Shark62

Juniors
Messages
2,497
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019...y-league-disability-team/11107144?pfmredir=sm

A football has never been far from the hands of Dale Cameron but always out of reach.

"You know when you sometimes go through life and you find yourself not doing what you're supposed to do? I was built to be an athlete."

Dale, 33, has been lifting weights since he was a boy in an effort to manage his disability, a rare form of spinal paralysis.

Dale's upper body is pure strength.

"I've always wanted to play football, you know, that's what I was built for."

As he grew, Dale's spine began curving and twisting in unnatural ways, throwing him off balance.

His leg muscles began wasting away, denying him the chance to get on the field and play the game he loved.

Too many times he has heard the words "this game's not for you, mate", but all that changed when he was asked to join a team, ironically because of his disability
Rugby league team with a difference
The rough and tumble world of rugby league has been off-limits to those with a disability.

But a man with a vision, who happens to be legally blind, has taken a lifetime of "no" and said "yes" to those wanting to play football.

In Ballina, in northern New South Wales, Terry Litton has created a rugby league team with a difference.

While on the outside Terry looks like an ordinary bloke, his 'invisible' disability has set him on a course to change the face of this sport.

As captain of the Gold Coast Titans physical disability rugby league (PDRL) team, Terry believes "because you have a disability doesn't mean you have to be wrapped up in cotton wool".Unlike the others in the team, Terry has been playing football since he was five. From his local team at La Perouse to playing for South Sydney Football Club as an adult, Terry has lived and breathed football.

That passion went on hold in 2011 when Terry had a brain aneurysm and almost died. A craniotomy saved his life but was followed by a series of strokes and epileptic fits. Terry is now blind in one eye with only 30 per cent vision in his other eye.

After intensive rehab he returned to the game at the 2018 Commonwealth Championships, playing in one of Australia's PDRL teams.

Getting back on the grass was a joy Terry wanted to share.

"I know what it's like to play rugby league and I've seen lots of boys who have never had that opportunity," he said.

"They're the ones who come to the ground and they'll sit there and they'll watch and they're not allowed to play because of the certain disabilities they have.

"But now, this is their chance to have a go."

Running with it
It was a chance Anthony 'Anno' Pitt grabbed with both hands.Anno was born with cerebral palsy and at 10 years old he had corrective surgery.

Anno's leg muscles were stretched, wires were inserted to straighten his feet, a plate put in his hip and eight plates in his knees.

His mother Pauline Moore said Anno lives for football but faced continual rejection in his efforts to play the game.

"I remember going to the clubs and just saying 'Can Anno play?'" Ms Moore said.

"It was always 'no', and then you'd look at his face and he was just really disappointed.

"For Terry and them to turn around and fix all this up, for him it's a big, big, deal and someone's finally given him an opportunity to go and play, fulfil his dreams."

Disabled players find their field of dreams
Under Terry Litton's guidance, the new team took up residence at the Ballina Seagulls rugby league club.

The club offered its full support, helping out with coaching on training nights and providing equipment.

With the backing and blessing of their adopted parent team, the Gold Coast Titans, the Gold Coast Titans PDRL team was born.

But every football team needs a competitor, and for Terry's crew the opportunity to play — and win — came at the Lismore Koori Knockout.

The philosophy of footy
The focus of the team was that first game, but all team members knew it was about more than football.

For the parents of players, the game has helped their sons become confident young men.

The father of team member Warrajarra 'Warrior' Glew has seen his son pass from boyhood into manhood as a result of Warrior's involvement in the team.

Warrajarra was born with Down syndrome and medical complications from his disability almost ended his life twice by the age of 10.

"We thought we were gonna lose him, he died twice, that's why his nickname's Warrior, he's a little fighter," Arthur Glew said.

Only five weeks after joining the team, Warrior's family began to see the emotional benefits of the team sport.

Warrior came back from training with a new-found confidence … and even an interest in shaving after 'discovering' a few facial hairs.

Mr Glew believed his son has reached a new level of maturity, and he wanted people to rethink their views on 'disability'.

"Disability awareness is really on the rise and I am so thankful for it," he said.

"And the more people are getting aware, that makes better people out of all of us."

Standing taller
Team member Anno is also walking taller as the physical and psychological benefits of the sport become apparent.

"He's standing [better] and he's more balanced, his running's better, everything's improved," mum Pauline Moore said.

After Anno's big first game, Ms Moore beams with the joy of a mum watching her son find happiness.

"He wants more," she laughed.

The new face of rugby league
The men in this team took the ball and ran with it, living and breathing the philosophy of football.

League player and team member Todd Philpott wants you to ponder this.

"If this old bastard at over 60 with a leg missing can get out on the field, imagine what you can do with your potential," he said.

Meet the Gold Coast Titans Physical Disability rugby league Team this week on Compass.

The episode airs 6:30pm, Sunday May 26, on ABC TV.
Great stuff
 
Messages
10,120
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019...y-league-disability-team/11107144?pfmredir=sm

A football has never been far from the hands of Dale Cameron but always out of reach.

"You know when you sometimes go through life and you find yourself not doing what you're supposed to do? I was built to be an athlete."

Dale, 33, has been lifting weights since he was a boy in an effort to manage his disability, a rare form of spinal paralysis.

Dale's upper body is pure strength.

"I've always wanted to play football, you know, that's what I was built for."

As he grew, Dale's spine began curving and twisting in unnatural ways, throwing him off balance.

His leg muscles began wasting away, denying him the chance to get on the field and play the game he loved.

Too many times he has heard the words "this game's not for you, mate", but all that changed when he was asked to join a team, ironically because of his disability
Rugby league team with a difference
The rough and tumble world of rugby league has been off-limits to those with a disability.

But a man with a vision, who happens to be legally blind, has taken a lifetime of "no" and said "yes" to those wanting to play football.

In Ballina, in northern New South Wales, Terry Litton has created a rugby league team with a difference.

While on the outside Terry looks like an ordinary bloke, his 'invisible' disability has set him on a course to change the face of this sport.

As captain of the Gold Coast Titans physical disability rugby league (PDRL) team, Terry believes "because you have a disability doesn't mean you have to be wrapped up in cotton wool".Unlike the others in the team, Terry has been playing football since he was five. From his local team at La Perouse to playing for South Sydney Football Club as an adult, Terry has lived and breathed football.

That passion went on hold in 2011 when Terry had a brain aneurysm and almost died. A craniotomy saved his life but was followed by a series of strokes and epileptic fits. Terry is now blind in one eye with only 30 per cent vision in his other eye.

After intensive rehab he returned to the game at the 2018 Commonwealth Championships, playing in one of Australia's PDRL teams.

Getting back on the grass was a joy Terry wanted to share.

"I know what it's like to play rugby league and I've seen lots of boys who have never had that opportunity," he said.

"They're the ones who come to the ground and they'll sit there and they'll watch and they're not allowed to play because of the certain disabilities they have.

"But now, this is their chance to have a go."

Running with it
It was a chance Anthony 'Anno' Pitt grabbed with both hands.Anno was born with cerebral palsy and at 10 years old he had corrective surgery.

Anno's leg muscles were stretched, wires were inserted to straighten his feet, a plate put in his hip and eight plates in his knees.

His mother Pauline Moore said Anno lives for football but faced continual rejection in his efforts to play the game.

"I remember going to the clubs and just saying 'Can Anno play?'" Ms Moore said.

"It was always 'no', and then you'd look at his face and he was just really disappointed.

"For Terry and them to turn around and fix all this up, for him it's a big, big, deal and someone's finally given him an opportunity to go and play, fulfil his dreams."

Disabled players find their field of dreams
Under Terry Litton's guidance, the new team took up residence at the Ballina Seagulls rugby league club.

The club offered its full support, helping out with coaching on training nights and providing equipment.

With the backing and blessing of their adopted parent team, the Gold Coast Titans, the Gold Coast Titans PDRL team was born.

But every football team needs a competitor, and for Terry's crew the opportunity to play — and win — came at the Lismore Koori Knockout.

The philosophy of footy
The focus of the team was that first game, but all team members knew it was about more than football.

For the parents of players, the game has helped their sons become confident young men.

The father of team member Warrajarra 'Warrior' Glew has seen his son pass from boyhood into manhood as a result of Warrior's involvement in the team.

Warrajarra was born with Down syndrome and medical complications from his disability almost ended his life twice by the age of 10.

"We thought we were gonna lose him, he died twice, that's why his nickname's Warrior, he's a little fighter," Arthur Glew said.

Only five weeks after joining the team, Warrior's family began to see the emotional benefits of the team sport.

Warrior came back from training with a new-found confidence … and even an interest in shaving after 'discovering' a few facial hairs.

Mr Glew believed his son has reached a new level of maturity, and he wanted people to rethink their views on 'disability'.

"Disability awareness is really on the rise and I am so thankful for it," he said.

"And the more people are getting aware, that makes better people out of all of us."

Standing taller
Team member Anno is also walking taller as the physical and psychological benefits of the sport become apparent.

"He's standing [better] and he's more balanced, his running's better, everything's improved," mum Pauline Moore said.

After Anno's big first game, Ms Moore beams with the joy of a mum watching her son find happiness.

"He wants more," she laughed.

The new face of rugby league
The men in this team took the ball and ran with it, living and breathing the philosophy of football.

League player and team member Todd Philpott wants you to ponder this.

"If this old bastard at over 60 with a leg missing can get out on the field, imagine what you can do with your potential," he said.

Meet the Gold Coast Titans Physical Disability rugby league Team this week on Compass.

The episode airs 6:30pm, Sunday May 26, on ABC TV.[/QUOTE

Excellent stuff :thumbsup::thumbsup::rugby_football::rugby_football:
 
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