Exmouth Tigers Disability FC finished the season with all three of their teams coming away with awards.

The club caters for adults aged 16+ who have disabilities or long-term mental health conditions.

It runs three sides, two men and one ladies, and takes part in tournaments organised by the Devon Ability Counts Football League.

They play against 46 other disability teams from across the county including Barnstaple, Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City, Torquay United, Pinhoe, Tiverton, and Tavistock.

Exmouth Tigers are one of the few clubs in the league who do not have the backing of a mainstream club and are backed by self-funding and Exmouth Gateway Club.

Exmouth Journal: Cubs (top left) Tigeresses (top right) and Tigers (bottom)

The Tigers, comprising Dan, Simon, Jai, Phil, Mark, Aidan, and Liam, managed and coached by Paul Baldwin supported by Emma Baldwin, who play in the Intermediate 1 league, didn’t have the best of seasons due to unavailability and injury.

They often attended tournaments with the bare minimum of five players.

Regardless, this didn’t stop their determination and effort.

They played to the best of their abilities, and despite finishing bottom of their league, they walked away with the Intermediate 1 Respect trophy.

This award is given to a team in each of the leagues following feedback from referees, other coaches, players, and the league committee.

The Cubs team, comprising Tony, Brian, Luke, John R, John W, David, Declan, and Ashley, also managed and coached by Paul Baldwin supported by Emma Baldwin and Steve Letheren, play in League 2 and also struggled this season due to unavailability and injuries.

Like the Tigers, they often attended tournaments with the bare minimum of five players but also picked up the season's respect trophy for their performance.

The Cubs form part of a league that truly encapsulates what Ability Counts football is about.

They go out, have fun, and thoroughly enjoy playing the game of football, often without much concern about winning.

The Ladies team, The Tigeresses, rose to the occasion this season.

The team, comprising Lettie, Rae, Steph, Abbey, Jodene, Rihanna, Angela, and Zellie, under the management of coach Pam Salter, supported by Emma Baldwin and Carolyn Letheren certainly made a mark this season.

They compete in the Women's Championship League.

Exmouth Journal: Three of their teams collected awards

Previously, the ladies had struggled to win a game but this season, despite often only having the minimum five players, they managed to secure the league runners-up trophy and the league respect trophy for the fourth season consecutively.

They also qualified for the Devon FA Ability Counts County Cup for the first time ever, held at Coach Road on Sunday.

Their performances in the cup matches were commendable, despite their inability to reach the final.

Club chairman, Paul Baldwin, said: "We are incredibly proud of all our teams but this season, in particular, our Tigeresses have excelled themselves.

"They have really improved their gameplay, which is a combined effort of the players putting in the effort and their fantastic manager/coach Pam Salter encouraging them and coaching them.

"Well done, ladies."

We are a small club but all three of our main coaches have achieved the Introduction to Coaching Qualification, The EE Playmaker by England FA Qualification, FA Safeguarding, and First Aid Qualifications.

In November 2024, the Exmouth Tigers Disability Football Club will celebrate its 10th anniversary.

When they began their journey, they only had four players, a second-hand kit, and some worn-out balls.

Now they have 23 players playing in the three teams.

The club is continually looking for more players aged 16+ and sponsorship for the teams.

They currently have a playing kit and a training kit that are several years old and could use a replacement.

If you would like to join the Tigers or sponsor them, please contact the Club Chair, Paul on 07866270213, or email paul@exmouthgateway.co.uk.