NOVEMBER 15 saw the Ability Counts Week draw to a close, with the final activity of the week taking place at Carrow Park.

A passionate East Anglian derby match between deaf players representing Norwich City and Ipswich Town kicked-off on the Carrow Park training pitch adjacent to Carrow Road. After an impressive start from the Canaries Ipswich went on to win the game 9-7.

Attention then turned to Carrow Road ahead of the Championship game with Swansea. Norwich City players were wearing Ability Counts t-shirts during their warm-up and a guard of honour consisting of the Club's Under-17 Centre of Excellence and adult Player Development Squad welcomed both the Norwich and Swansea teams out on to the pitch. During the half-time interval players from the Centre of Excellence took part in the Aviva skills test on the pitch and members of the Player Development Squad presented their trophies to the crowd as current champions of both Eastern Regional leagues.

Elliot Omozusi during the pre-match warm-up

Reflecting on the weeks events, Norwich's Disability Liaison Officer, Stephen Graham, told canaries.co.uk: "I've travelled to several Premiership grounds and can honestly say that Norwich City's disabled facilities are equal to them, if not better in some cases. As Disability Liaison Officer, I am very proud of what the Club offers it's disabled fans and I have been delighted to be involved in Aviva Ability Counts Week and all the fantastic events we have planned."

The week saw several events organised to showcase the disabled facilities at Carrow Road, as well as the importance of the local community as a whole to Norwich City. The Wednesday evening saw the Ability Counts Forum take place, during which disabled Canary supporters put questions to the panel which included City chairman Roger Munby, City defender Adam Drury and Norwich legend, Jeremy Goss.

The panel for the Aviva Ability Counts Forum

Speaking after the event, Drury told canaries.co.uk: "I enjoyed it, I've been looking forward to coming along, It's an important event to come along to and support, and community is really important to the Club. It's always been like that since the day I joined Norwich and there's no reason why it shouldn't carry on being like that.

"This kind of event gives you an idea of how the fans are feeling, and they get a chance to put questions to you that perhaps they wouldn't normally get the chance to do. You do get one or two awkward ones which put you on the spot but that's what it's for, the fans put you on the spot a little bit and ask you things they've been thinking for a while and haven't been able to have the chance to ask."

Paralympian Danny Nobbs at the Aviva Ability Counts Forum

Over 200 children took part in the Ability Counts Grand Prix held at Power League in Bowthorpe on November 13. 22 teams played five-a-side football, refereed by members of Football in the Community and Community Ambassador, Jeremy Goss.

Speaking at the event, Deborah O'Malley, Community Affairs Manager for AVIVA said: "This is a fantastic event. To see the number of kids here and the looks on their faces they're obviously thoroughly enjoying themselves. AVIVA are very proud to support Ability Counts week and the Ability Counts programme overall.

"We sponsored Ability Counts week under the Norwich Union name fro the past few years but now with the new shirt sponsorship, we've extended support to cover the Ability Counts programme as a whole."

FITC's Disability Officer Darran Lovell added: "It's really important for us as a football club for us to be able to provide these children the chance to come along and play in this type of event. 22 teams have taken part with a range of disabilities and it's great that we've got representatives from AVIVA here to show what we've been doing for a long period of time and we really appreciate the support they've given us.

"The kids love it, the amount of children I see smiling, taking part and having fun and trying to their best is absolutely fantastic."

Looking back on a week which has highlighted to importance of the local community to the Football Club, Community Ambassador Jeremy Goss told First News: "This week has been exceptional and it's what Norwich City Football Club is all about. No one should ever be missed out in terms of competing in sport, so we're pleased to set the events up via our FITC department and Daren Lovell and his staff have done a fantastic job.

"You can feel the emotion from everybody and it's great to see so many happy, smiling people having fun."

Children partake in the Ability Counts Grand Prix in Bowthorpe

Roger Munby, Norwich City Chairman, told canaries.co.uk he had been delighted to have been involved in the week's proceedings. "You begin to appreciate the magnitude of the community effort of the Club and how much it means to each and every one of the people involved," he said.

"The physical and psychological rehabilitation which comes from the events in Ability Counts week are just as important as the physical elements. These events play a vital part in the Club's community approach which is at the heart and soul of what it believe itself to be."

View the Norwich City FC/Aviva Ability Counts Week 08 Brochure.