4th February 2024
Well done everyone.
23rd January 2024
Football stops – briefly – for fundraising presentation to The Childrens Hospital Charity!
There was a pre-planned interruption to the fantastic five-a side action as the South Yorkshire Ability Counts League took an important time out during the matchday at the Goals Centre last Sunday.
The SYorks ACL is an FA-affiliated but independently-run pan-disability football league, with over 650 registered participants aged from Under-12 to adult, playing across 11 Divisions. We were voted as Sheffield FA’s Grassroots League of the Year for 2022/3 season.
After a month-long fundraising campaign, the League was delighted and privileged to present a cheque for over £3000 to The Children’s Hospital Charity, with the funds designated for landscaping and outdoor sensory enhancements to Sheffield Children’s Hospital’s respite care centre at Ryegate House.
Our Chairman Mike Stylianou introduced the players, officials and supporters to the League’s honoured guests for the afternoon; Cheryl Davidson, Head of Community and Events at The Children’s Hospital Charity and a Governor at SCH; Sarah Makepeace, Public Governor at SCH; and Sarah’s husband Jeremy Makepeace, Commercial Director at Sheffield Forgemasters. Sarah and Jeremy’s late daughter, Georgia, had been a frequent guest at Ryegate, and as Sarah subsequently noted, the presentation took place 14 years to the day after Georgia’s first overnight at Ryegate House.
Jeremy’s company, Sheffield Forgemasters, is a world- renowned specialist steelmaker based in the city. Forgemasters had contributed a fantastic donation of £500 to the campaign.
Mike described the close relationship between many of the League’s families and the Ryegate Centre; by way of example, Mike’ son Paul , from Spartans FC, had stayed at Ryegate on a number of occasions.
Mike explained that Sarah and Cheryl would be closely involved in determining how the funds were spent, and that the League would provide an update on progress in due course.
Sarah, Jeremy and Cheryl accepted the cheque on behalf of Ryegate House before our players and guests posed for photographs, which you can view at www.southyorkshireabilitycountsleague.com
Xmas 2023
South Yorkshire Ability Counts League joins up with The Children’s Hospital Charity
Christmas fundraiser supports Ryegate House, Sheffield Children’s Hospital
After two extremely successful Christmas fundraising campaigns in support of local foodbanks, the South Yorkshire Ability Counts League – a pan-disability football competition for participants from under 12’s to adults – has decided to join forces with The Children’s Hospital Charity to fundraise for the Hospital’s Ryegate House, which provides overnight respite care for children and young people up to the age of 19 and who live with a range of physical and neurological disabilities.
The fundraising campaign will target equipment and plants to enhance the outdoor areas at Ryegate House, which is a fully accessible six bed respite unit with facilities specially designed for children and young people with complex health needs and disabilities.
It provides a safe and comfortable environment, inside and out, where children and young people can enjoy their stay.
The South Yorkshire Ability Counts League is home to over 650 participants living with disability across 11 Divisions and was elected as the Grassroots League of the Year by Sheffield Football Association at its awards ceremony back in October.
SYACL Chair, Mike Stylianou was awarded as Positive Football Environment Award winner at the same event.
Commenting on the Ryegate Fundraiser, Mike said, “ although we have teams who are not located in South Yorkshire and players with disabilities that may not have required care by Ryegate, more than 250 of our players will have been or are still on their register. ”
” Their families – including mine – and carers are extremely grateful for the support offered by Sheffield Children’s Hospital at Ryegate and have high regard and a deep affection for the wonderful service provided by current and past staff members. ”
“I know I can easily say on behalf of all our members, it will be our pleasure to give back as much as we can to help out with fundraising efforts to improve the garden area. ”
The League’s Just Giving page can be found at: –
www.justgiving.com/page/syorksacl-ryegate-house-1701174608841
There will also be bucket collections at all three December matchdays, starting this Sunday at Goals Doncaster, 12 noon.
You can read about us at www.southyorkshireabilitycountsleague.com and The Children’s Hospital Charity at tchc.org.uk
South Yorkshire Ability Counts League 