Manchester United Foundation participants from our Ability Counts project came together with young players from the club’s Girls Academy as part of an inclusive training session celebrating diversity.

Fun, integration and kindness were key themes of this unique session which, like many Foundation projects, encouraged disabled and non-disabled young people to unite through their love of the game.

Ten girls from Ability Counts, the Foundation’s PAN-disability football programme, were invited to attend the Girls Academy training session, marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities (celebrated annually on 3 December).

Participants enjoyed some light-hearted and fun activities in one another’s company, including games, skill challenges and mixed matches – bringing the Girls Academy Under-11 and Under-13 teams together with participants of the same age groups from Ability Counts.

Ivy, one of the Girls Academy Under-13s, said: “Tonight we did some games with a group of players that came down from the Foundation. It was fun and I enjoyed it because it was a more relaxed than usual.

“At first, I think the other girls might have been a bit nervous, as anyone would be coming into a new group. But as we went through the session, everyone came out of their shell, and we spoke more. I think it’s a really good thing.”

Ivy’s Under-13 team-mate, Phoebe, added: “It was good to have some new faces and invite them into the group. They were good footballers and very nice people. I think they are brave to come into a new group and settled in well, it was really good.”

Ability Counts is the Foundation’s core disability football offering, running every Friday at the Reds’ former men’s first-team training ground, The Cliff.

With participants as young as five, all the way up to the age of 25, Ability Counts sessions regularly host more than 100 participants each week, offering free football opportunities for disabled young people, including the chance to represent Manchester United on a regional and national level in organised competitions.

Matt Pilkington, the Foundation’s disability and inclusion coordinator, said: “It’s been a brilliant experience to bring the young people across to the Girls Academy session. The coaches and players have all been so welcoming and accommodating, and it’s important for our participants to feel that warmth and sense of comfort so that they can express themselves in a new environment.”

Elizabeth, 12, who was one of the Ability Counts participants who attended, said: “I go to The Cliff for football training. I like that we get to play matches at the end, and tonight we also played some matches, and did dribbling and shooting. I haven’t played with these girls before, but it was fun, and they were nice to us. I feel good.”