A DISABLED coach at Oxford City Football Club has urged schools to do more to make the playground an inclusive place.

Ibrar Khan, 35, from Cowley, is wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy but coaches able-bodied teams and others at the club’s Marsh Lane grounds.

He recently watched a short film by Sandford resident Stephen Fontaine about Mabel Prichard Special School in Blackbird Leys.

The film looked at how the school gave its playground an overhaul so children of different abilities could play together.

This was partly made possible by a £4,500 donation from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the Oxford Mail’s parent company, in its annual grants scheme.

He said: “It brought a massive lump to my throat and highlighted all the issues I went through when I was in education at East Oxford Primary School.

“There’s definitely a divide in the playground. When you are physically able you can do a lot more.

“The film has the potential to help others, if not as part of the national curriculum then as part of teacher training. Being inclusive is quite a new idea and we have come a long way, but there is still progress to be made.”

Mr Khan is well on the way to becoming a fully-qualified coach through the Football Association.

He said: “Football is the only thing I’ve ever been able to relate to. It was Oxford City who gave me everything and I’ve not looked back since.

“Despite being in a wheelchair I’m qualified and know what I’m talking about. But you have to win the players over. Some people totally refuse to play.

“It’s the best reward I can get when someone does that and then at the end of the season we win.”

He and film-maker Stephen Fontaine met earlier this year when Mr Fontaine came to discuss making a film about the club’s history. The film shot at Mabel Prichard, Playing with Friendships, was created this summer. Coincidentally it was sponsored by Oxford City FC.

Mr Fontaine, 48, said: “Ibrar watched the film and called back a couple of days later to say he was really moved.

“If it wasn’t for Oxford City, I doubt the film would have been made, which has inspired Ibrar. It’s also extremely flattering to get such praise from such a strong and ambitious character, who won’t let anything get in his way to gain his coaching badges.”