Sevenoaks Powerchair Football Club
The history of Powerchair Football
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Powerchair Football was first played in France in the 1970s. It then spread around Europe (Belgium, Portugal, Denmark and England) before a group of Vancouver athletes began playing a variation of the game in Canada in 1982. The game then moved down the west coast to Berkeley, California in 1988 and across the Pacific to Japan. Representatives of the nations met in 2006, in Atlanta, to form the Federation Internationale de Powerchair Football Associations (FIPFA)
1978
France creates “Football in electric wheelchairs” for young people with severe disabilities.
1979
Canada starts to develop a sport called “Power Soccer”, which was exported to the United States and Japan, while “Wheelchair Football” was being played in Belgium, Portugal and Switzerland.
1980 to 2005
During these 25 years, several styles of play developed. All were inspired by the Canadian and French models and each adapted their play to meet their own requirements.
2005
Representatives of the United States, Canada, Japan, England and Portugal, met in Paris to discuss the possibility of making the sport international. The six countries, joined by Denmark and Belgium, met in Portugal, finalised the international rulebook, and officially created Powerchair Football.
2006
In Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the new sporting rules were tested and validated. The Articles of the new federation were adopted and the International Federation of Powerchair Football Association filed its Articles in Paris, France, the home of its registered office.
2007
FIPFA organised its first World Cup in Tokyo, Japan. Eight countries competed to win the first international competition of Powerchair Football and was broadcast live on the Internet.
2008
The first international club competition was organized in France. This EPFA Power Champions League brought together the top eight teams from four European countries.
2009
1st Americas Cup competition organised in Atlanta and bringing together the best teams from the USA and Canada. FIPFA acquires the status of Federation recognised by the IPC (International Paralympic Committee).
2010
2nd Power Champions League in Europe organised in England. 2nd Americas cup held in Vancouver, Canada.
2011
Paris hosted the 2nd World Cup with 10 countries present.
2014
First European Nations Cup in Ireland (Limerick), and first Americas Cup (COPA) in Brazil (Rio). FIPFA organised the first international tournament for players under eighteen in France (Paris). Austria, Finland, Argentina, Uruguay and New Zealand joined FIPFA.