THE BRENTFORD PENGUINS

 

Former Spurs player Allan Cockram loves his post-professional coaching career, but his team has one amazing difference. Allan gives up his time to run the Brentford Penguins – the UK’s only football team for children with Down’s Syndrome. Come rain or shine, Allan is there every Sunday morning to coach more than 30 children aged between 5 and 19 and says it’s the highlight of his week. 

Nothing is Impossible! for children with Down's Syndrome.

Supported by the Brentford FC and the Professional Football Association.
https://www.planetpenguinfootballfoundation.com/brentfordpenguinsblog

Brentford Penguins Football Club was formed in 2017 and has gone from strength to strength. It is a non-profit organisation and works in partnership with the D.S. Active and Brentford Community Sports' Trust. Many local community football clubs offer pan-disability training sessions, but children with DS weren't always given the attention they needed. It was decided to start up a very specific and unique football club for any child aged 5+ who has DS. Not only is the club open to players with DS but also encourages parents and siblings to also join in. This has a positive impact on the family as a whole, giving them an opportunity to have something to do together and strengthen their relationships!!

​Brentford Penguins FC give participants an opportunity to socialise, to make friends and have a fulfilling social life whilst creating a sense of belonging alongside their peers.

​Our sessions have improved physical health, emotional and mental well being, strengthened relationships and achieved social well being. The players have also improved their communication and teamwork skills which helps with their development and integration within society, as well as building on their fitness, strength and coordination.

We are very proud to have achieved this so far and have been able to do this with the love and support of our Penguin family.

© 2017 Planet Penguin Football Foundation

Registered Charity No. 1202901

Proudly designed by W3bster.net

The Guardian newspaper has done a report on Brentford Penguins. Brentford Penguins FC is a football programme run by former player Allan Cockram. Their sessions based at Gunnersbury Park are open to anyone with Down’s syndrome aged eight and over. Allan was a popular Brentford player in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played just over 100 games for The Bees in his time with us. He runs a Penguins squad that features Woody O’Rourke, one of our very well-known fans who captured the nation’s hearts after his celebratory hug with Thomas Frank after the first game of the season against Arsenal. To mark World Down's Syndrome Day (the global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012) on 21st March we invited the Brentford Penguins FC to our recent game against Burnley. The 21st day of the third month, was selected given the significance of the number 21 – Down’s syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21.  Allan explained how a conversation turned in to setting up the team in 2017.  “I played football with the son of a friend. We built a bond. The boy died of complications relating to Down’s in the mid-1990s, aged just 14. I vowed that one day I would set up a football club for people with Down’s syndrome. Fast-forward 20 years and I had the opportunity to do it. We all need to belong to something bigger than ourselves. The smiles on their faces. That family environment, you see them flourish. The friendship they have for each other is crazy.” Note Allan's career table below, including coaching at Cambridge for the University squad.

Personal information
Full name	Allan Charles Cockram
Date of birth	8 October 1963 (age 60)
Place of birth	Kensington, England
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team	Cambridge University (manager)
Youth career
1975–1981	Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1981–1985	Tottenham Hotspur	2	(0)
1985	San Francisco Flyers
1985	Bristol Rovers	1	(0)
1985	San Jose (indoor)
1985–1986	Farnborough Town
1987–1988	St Albans City	44	(25)
1988–1991	Brentford	90	(14)
1991	Woking
1991–1992	Reading	6	(1)
1992	Farnborough Town
1992	Woking
1992–1996	St Albans City	98	(25)
1996–1997	Chertsey Town
1999–2000	Leatherhead
International career
	England Youth
Managerial career
1985	San Francisco Flyers
1994–1996	St Albans City (player-manager)
1996–1997	Chertsey Town (player-manager)
2019–	Cambridge University