Allied Mobility Sponsors Powerchair Football Team

In a heart warming move to support local talent and inclusivity in sports, Allied Mobility, part of the Allied Vehicles Group, has sponsored a young powerchair football team to the sum on £16,900, enabling them to compete in an international tournament in Geneva, Switzerland.

The decision to sponsor the team was inspired by a chance encounter between David Facenna, Corporate Culture Director at Allied Vehicles Group, and a young boy named Kaiden, who is already being recognized as one of the top powerchair football players in the UK despite being only eight years old.

The story began in 2023 when David Facenna and Kieran McFarlane, manager of Allied’s Mobility Solutions brand, were testing a new power add-on wheelchair attachment.

As they whizzed around the streets of Possilpark, near the old site of Allied founder Gerry Facenna’s first garage, they encountered Kaiden and his mother. As a young wheelchair user himself Kaiden was excited by the add-on, and David Facenna offered the lad a chance to try out the new device, sparking an ongoing connection with the family.

Kaiden’s father, Peter, who has since joined Allied Vehicles as a panel beater, initially discussed the possibility of Allied sponsoring Kaiden, or simply offering a raffle prize to aid fundraising efforts and discussed concerns about the financial burden to other players of attending the competition in Geneva.

Recognizing the potential impact and the importance of supporting athletes with disabilities, David Facenna discussed the matter with his father, Gerry, and they decided to sponsor the entire team’s trip. David Facenna said:

“We’re not just supporting a team, we’re investing in the dreams of young athletes like Kaiden and we’re excited to help him, and his teammates, achieve their goals on the international stage.”

This sponsorship underscores the Allied Vehicles Group’s commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities and promoting inclusivity in all aspects of life.

The team, known as FC United Powerchair Football Club , consists of players of all ages and abilities, showcases the incredible talent and spirit that powerchair football fosters.

Speaking about the impact of the Allied sponsorship, Kaiden’s mother Laura said,

“When we initially came to ask for a donation, we were only hoping for something to raffle like speedway tickets or something, we were never expecting the whole team to be fully sponsored."

“The team are over the moon because, some of them work, some of them don't work, so, to be able to go without having to worry about how they were going to afford it is a huge weight lifted off everybody's shoulders. We cannot thank the Facennas and Allied Mobility enough for their amazing generosity.”