The England Learning Disabilities (LD) team is one of eight disability squads supported by the Football Association.[1] To qualify for the team, players must have an intellectual disability with an IQ equal to or below 70–75, as determined by the World Health Organization. The players must also have been in receipt of special education, employment and/or respite care between the ages of 0 and 18.[2]

The England LD team won the Learning Disabilities World Cup at the INAS World Football Championships in 2002, beating the Netherlands 2–1 at the Yokohama Stadium, Japan, in August 2002.[3] They reached the final of the Learning Disabilities European Championships in August 2003, when they were beaten 2–1 by the Netherlands in Portugal.[4] They were crowned world champions at the first Global Games in August 2004, beating Poland 4–1 in the final in Bollnäs, Sweden.[5] The World Cup holders however crashed out of the quarter finals of the INAS FID World Football Championship in 2006, losing 4–1 to Saudi Arabia in Recklinghausen, Germany.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "England Disability Teams". The FA. Archived from the original on 26 March 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  2. ↑ "England ready for title defence". BBC Sport. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2008. (Final two paragraphs).
  3. ↑ Davies, Jeff (25 August 2002). "England LD's are top of the World". The FA. Archived from the original on 26 March 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  4. ↑ "Disappointment for England". BBC Sport. 13 August 2003. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  5. ↑ "England win Global Games title". BBC Sport. 3 August 2004. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  6. ↑ "World Cup defence ends". The FA. 11 September 2006. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
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