South Melbourne FC aims to present the most diverse and inclusive All Abilities Football program in Australia.

The club embraces the Football Victoria strategy of Football4All recognising that sport is about fairness and equality, respect and dignity.

The All Abilities Football Program at South Melbourne FC is recognised as one of the five core football programs managed by the club. This page provides an overview of the All Abilities Football Program and how we support participation in various forms of the world game.

Powerchair football is a modified version of football (soccer) for powerchair (electric wheelchair) users. It is played on a regulation basketball court using a 33cm ball. There are two teams of four players (including the goal keeper).

South Melbourne FC has two teams and we compete in the Victorian Powerchair League which is managed by Powerchair Sports Victoria. The club tracvels to compete in the Australian Club Championships in Sydney each year. The Victorian Powerchair League is running from February to June in 2021.

We welcome all ages, all genders and all abilities to join us. You can read more information about this program and how to participate on our Powerchair Football page. You can keep up-to-date with the teams activities on their Facebook page.

Blind Football (B1) is an internationally recognised sport played at the Paralympics. It is played outdoors by athletes who are totally blind (B1) on a 40m x 20m pitch with side kickboards and an audible ball. There are two teams of five; four outfield players and a goalkeeper. The outfield players wear eye-shades to equal their sight and the goalkeeper can be fully or partially sighted.

South Melbourne FC has a blind football team which trains and competes in the National Para 5’s series scheduled to be introduced in June 2021. Players also attend National Training Camps held four times a year to earn a place in the Australian Paralympic squad.

We welcome anyone who is blind, of all ages, all genders and all abilities to join us. You can read more information about this program and how to participate on our Blind Football page. You can keep up-to-date with the teams activities on their Facebook page.

The All Abilities Program at South Melbourne FC was founded in 2018.

The program commenced as a collaborative effort between the club and Powerchair Sports Victoria (formerly the Victorian Electric Wheelchair Sports Association). Under the guidance of then Football Director and now Club President Nicholas Maikousis and lead by powerchair footballer Craig Kilby with the club’s Media Manager Skip Fulton, the formation of the team provided the first opportunity for competitive powerchair football in Victoria.

The powerchair team would compete in the local Victorian league and in invitational events with a travelling team from South Australia. These efforts culminating in the team entering the Australian Club Championship and recording their first win on the national stage in just their first year in the sport.

In 2021 the club expanded the All Abilities Program through a strategic partnership with Australian Blind Football. Taking responsibility for blind and vision impaired teams in Melbourne, South Melbourne will provide oportunities to train and compete representing their club, Football Victoria and their country at the Paralympics.

The club is further growing the program with the introduction of a team to compete in the Football Victoria All Abilities League in 2021. This team is for anyone with a physical or intellectual disability.