Hertfordshire FA’s Disability Centre of Excellence, which is run in conjunction with Watford FC, marked its first six months with a visit from MP David Gauke.

The Disability Centre received political support when it was launched at the Herts FA's headquarters at the County Ground in Letchworth last October, with four Hertfordshire MPs, including current housing minister Grant Shapps, attended the event.

However the interest of Mr Gauke, South West Hertfordshire MP and Exchequer secretary to the Treasury, could be key. Following the change of policy from the new Government, the MP may now have a crucial role in deciding the distribution of funding to grassroots sports and projects such as these in the coming years.

Mr Gauke visited the centre last Wednesday to witness first hand the work it does with disabled youngsters.

He was joined by Karl Lingham, Hertfordshire county development manager, Steve Williams, Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust senior manager for social inclusion, James Shaplan, Ashlyns School headteacher, and Berkhamsted Raiders Community Football Club's chairman Keith Pollard.

They visited some of the facilities, including a 3G artificial grass pitch at Ashlyn's School in Berkhamsted, which is shared with the Raiders, that enables youngsters to train all year round.

And clearly Mr Gauke was impressed with the facilities the centre had to offer.

He said: "The facilities here are superb. I think it is excellent that the FA and the Football Foundation is supporting local clubs. It is also great to see that so many young people from Hertfordshire are using the new centre to then be able to play for football teams.

"The Disability Centre of Excellence provides a great service. I wish the teams well for the future and I hope that the teams go from strength to strength."

The initiative, run in partnership with Watford FC's Community Sports and Education Trust, enables teenagers with impairments from across Hertfordshire to train and play football under the guidance of accredited staff from the FA.

These include players who are visually impaired, have Cerebral Palsy, are amputees, deaf or hearing impaired and those with learning difficulties.

The centre created two teams, one for under-14s and one for under-18s, who compete against other centres across South East England.

Two players from the Herts centre have already been called up for England training camps following impressive performances.

It is hoped youngsters may also be selected to represent Great Britain in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.