‘They bring so much positivity’: Disability football scheme brings joy to Charlton Women

A not-for-profit organisation is helping young girls with disabilities through football, and their positivity has been welcomed by a women’s championship team.

As Charlton Athletic Women took on London City Lionesses at The Valley yesterday, 14 young mascots from This Girl’s Ability group cheered encouragement from the stands.

Ahead of the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw, the girls were busy in the Bartram’s fan zone creating mascot shakers and banners to promote the Her Game Too campaign which aims to tackle sexism in sport.

Ellie Brazil, Charlton Women’s forward, said: “We’ve been fortunate enough to have This Girl’s Ability attend a large number of our games this year.

“We love having them there, they bring so much positivity to every game which only benefits us on the pitch.

“Their support during our Her Game Too match this weekend was really inspiring, it shows that we are all wanting to achieve the same goal, making football equal to all.”

This Girl’s Ability was set up by 50-year-old Nikki Fairbairn, Charlton Women’s operations and first team player care lead, in September 2022.

The charitable organisation supports girls and young women with disabilities, by offering fun football sessions or the chance to attend championship women’s matches together.

More than 40 members aged between 10 and 25, turn up to the weekly sessions which are run at pitches in Havering, Dagenham and Chelmsford by Ms Fairbairn and her daughters Zoe and Danni.

They are now looking to establish a fourth group in the Charlton area.

Ms Fairbairn, who grew up in Eltham, said: “Our success to date in keeping and retaining our members is that it’s their session.

“If they are going to be playing their way, then they are going to be engaged in sport.

“A lot of the time they don’t think ‘I’m doing physical activity’ because they are having so much fun.”

Through a career in charity work, Ms Fairbairn noticed that sports opportunities were more popular amongst boys than girls.

She said that asking the question, ‘Why aren’t girls coming to these sessions?’ was the catalyst for the This Girl’s Ability initiative.

Adult members are also encouraged into coaching, with three women having completed their FA Introduction to Coaching Football course.

They now regularly train their peers and recently ran a coaching session for Charlton Athletic Women.

Full-back, Charlotte Newsham, who joined the Addicks in July 2024, said: “It was lovely. I think they obviously enjoyed it and we really enjoyed it and it’s something different.

“You can see how happy they were coaching us and all the girls got along with it.  It really helps them as much as us getting to meet different people with different abilities.”

Many members of This Girl’s Ability were not fans of football before they joined, Ms Fairbairn said, but everyone was encouraged to try one session to see how it worked.

Now, player numbers are only increasing and many have evolved into supporters of women’s football.

Michelle Smith, whose daughter attends This Girl’s Ability, said the scheme has improved her confidence and social skills.

She said; “My daughter has such positive experiences and the players are a credit to the industry showing girls that they too have a place and can enjoy an amazing sport.”

Now looking to establish a new home in the Charlton area,  Ms Fairbairn is inviting families of girls with disabilities aged between 10 and 25 to get in touch.

To find out more, visit: https://www.thisgirlsability.co.uk/

Pictured top: This Girl’s Ability promote the Her Game Too campaign ahead of the Charlton Women match against London City Lionesses at The Valley yesterday (Picture: James Whitehead)