A new junior football team has been set up with the intention of giving every child an equal opportunity to get involved with the ‘Beautiful Game’.

Newlands Avenue JFC, Bradford Moor, were recently established by coach Mohammed Yaseen, and they are now operating in the playing fields opposite Morrisons Head Office and Hovis Bakery in BD3.

Their main ambition is to give children from deprived areas of Bradford, along with children who are deaf, the chance to take part in a sport they love.

Alongside Yaseen, Mohammed Sufyaan is another coach at the club. Sufyann is unable to speak or hear and is a deaf trainee at Newlands.

Mohammed Sufyaan on the touchlineMohammed Sufyaan on the touchline (Image: Submitted) Yaseen, who has teams right from the u7s to u11s, admitted that it was a project that has been long in the making.

He said: “We have some very talented players who love playing football from deprived areas.

“Sadly, the majority of these children can't afford to go and watch any live football matches in person due to financial reasons and also many other issues, but we make them believe and feel they are no different to Messi, Ronaldo, Kane or any other super stars. They are all unique individuals with their own skills and abilities.

“We’ve wanted to create a community like this for a while.”

Since they were founded, Newlands have been registered and affiliated with the West Riding FA and have been entered to play in the Craven-Aire-and-Wharfe Junior league.

However, the club has stemmed from a previous establishment.

Yaseen said: “Our football team have been playing together for several years at frame2 under the Three Lions Coaching Academy name.

“I set this all up by myself and have kept hundreds of kids off the streets for the past 11 years. Many have moved on to higher education as I have mentored them and pushed them to bring the best out of them.

“However, now Newlands is set up, we want to welcome anyone to the club, whether they’ve got visible and nonvisible disability.”

Around 80-100 youngsters are attending sessions at Newlands on a weekly basis, and around 18 of those players are deaf, while some of the children at the club have autism and ADHD.

The real goal of this project is to make football available to anyone.

Yaseen said: “What Mohammed (Sufyaan) is doing is incredible at the club, and his role just highlights the inclusivity of this club.

“He’s a deaf trainee coach on board, but he is managing a team of players that are able to hear and speak. He is doing a fantastic job in training and can give his messages out to the players with hand signs and using a tactical board. He is unbeaten in all the friendlies and league games so far.”

“My aim, eventually, is to have a deaf team purely managed by Mohammed. He has a degree in sports, and he will excel in running a deaf football academy for this club, I have no doubt about it.”

He added: “We are determined to shine a spotlight some of Bradford’s talent, no matter their background or ability, because there is a lot out there.”

For more information on Newlands Avenue JFC, and for more information on how to join the club, contact coach Mohammed Yaseen on: 07798 887584.