I’m Bobby Shearer, and I play powerchair football for Hull & East Yorkshire PFC. Powerchair football has become a huge part of my life since my first training session in 2014. I love football anyway, but to actually play the sport is a feeling like no other.

I have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a muscle-wasting condition which affects all muscles, including heart and respiratory muscles. Due to the progression of my condition, I am now unable to use a traditional hand joystick to operate my wheelchair, and I rely on using a specialist controller with my chin. I use this type of controller to get about in my everyday powerchair which has allowed me to maintain my independence, and now I need one to be able to use my football chair.

This will enable me to play football again, something I haven’t been able to do for the last 4 years.

The main reason we’re a club is to play football, but it goes far beyond just a game. The community aspect of the club is a huge part of it too, it’s something that gets me out of the house to socialise and keeps me busy. I’m also looking at taking up a coaching role with the club.

The chin controller costs around £2,000, which is money that I don’t have available. By either making a donation or showing support by simply sharing this page, any contribution you make will be greatly appreciated and will be a huge step towards me playing the beautiful game again.

Thanks for reading my story!

Here is some information below about the charity:

Hull & East Yorkshire Powerchair Football Club was formed in 2012, following two successful taster sessions. Since then, we have significantly grown having over 25 members registered at the club, who all play at various levels both competitive and recreational. Although playing football is the reason we get together, we are a club first and for some members attending the club is a way of getting out and about and away from the normal day to day troubles of living with a severe and often life-limiting disability. We have a wide range of players who play at various levels from the National League to Regional League including those who just come for social activity.

As a registered charity our main aim and objective is to allow physically disabled people to play a fast-paced team game, something that most of our members have never been able to do before. Imagine the feeling of finally finding something you can actually do! Great isn’t it. Our mission is to give disabled people of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Yorkshire including Humber Estuary the chance to play powerchair football at both a social and competitive level despite their age or gender. In addition to this, we aim to continue to create community for parents, family members and carers so they know they are not alone.

Funding for the charity will enable it to purchase a chin controller for players without the ability to move their arms to play a powerchair football. Furthermore, continuing to achieve it’s charitable aim and objective providing disabled people of all ages and genders the chance to play powerchair football.