Cambridge City Football Club has entered a new chapter with its amputee team, freshly admitted to the England Amputee Football Association league earlier this year. The side is now gearing up for a landmark showdown in the FA Disability Cup final, where they will meet Chelsea in a clash that promises to spotlight the growing visibility of disability sport.
Training milestone
Last weekend the squad conducted its inaugural all‑female training session, a milestone that manager Duncan Rumbelow believes could herald a permanent home at the club’s Sawston ground. He envisions the team becoming a full‑time fixture at Cambridge City’s stadium, providing a stable platform for future growth.
Among the players is former England Lioness Isabelle Papandronicou, who lost her leg to a rare congenital condition at 14. Two years after discovering amputee football, she now feels confidence surge ahead of the final, hoping the team’s profile will inspire younger athletes facing similar challenges.
Joining her is fellow ex‑Lioness Marni Voak, who describes the sport as a source of emotional, mental and physical uplift. Voak notes that the expanded opportunities in amputee football have transformed her outlook and performance on the pitch.
The upcoming final represents more than a trophy; it is a chance for the team to raise awareness and demonstrate that disability sport can thrive at the professional level. With former internationals on board and a clear ambition to embed the side within the club’s structure, Cambridge City’s amputee squad is poised to leave a lasting imprint on the football community.