Pinhoe become Devon's most successful ability counts team after outstanding season

Pinhoe Ability Counts have become Devon’s most successful disability football club in the county, during their ten-year anniversary campaign. The Exeter-based club won three league titles alongside three County Cup titles in just one season, beating sides such as Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle. Pinhoe launched its first disability team back in 2012 and has grown from just three players to over 55 in a decade.

Andy Barefoot, head coach, said: “It’s been a spectacular season, especially when you consider the last couple of years have been lost to Covid. Every single player, parent and guardian deserves to feel really proud of themselves for what they’ve achieved this year. Everyone has shown dedication and commitment to turn up to every training session or match day rain or shine. This is a season nobody will ever forget.”

This was just Pinhoe Ability Counts third season in the Adult Devon Ability Counts League, after first entering one squad in 2018. The club now has four men teams and one female team competing each month in the Devon tournaments, with three of the five sides winning their respective divisions.

Charlie Williams, 25, Pinhoe player, said: “It was great seeing how everyone progressed though out the year. To win our league was exciting as I haven’t played for a few years, so to get to the end on top was such an amazing feeling. We’ve managed this incredible season thanks to all the hard work put in by the coaches, players and parents, everyone always gives 100%.”

Devon Ability Counts League consists of eight divisions, with Pinhoe sides having won the men’s Premiership Two, Intermediate One and Intermediate Two leagues, whilst coming runners up in League One and the women’s division.

One of the standout