The day started with the Upbeat players watching Charlton Athletic first team train. The first team players were sporting #LotsOfSocks for World Down Syndrome Day and Awareness Week and they looked fantastic!

The players took a break from their training to meet the Upbeats who were very excited to get stuck into training.

Karl Robinson, first team manager,  had a shooting exercise set up for the players with Jonnie Jackson leading one team and Tony Watt leading the other, with Declan Rudd set up in goal. However the Upbeats keeper had it covered. There were some fantastic shots being saved but a few of them managed to get past the keeper.

After the shooting exercise was over the Upbeat players had a few tips for the players for their upcoming matches, particularly about their passing and dribbling.

One top tip was “you have to make sure you pass as a team and make sure you say the players name so they are ready to get the ball”.

There was some great advice coming from the all players, especially those who are currently taking part in their FA Level 1 Coaching in Football qualification.

Karl Robinson said “Football leads the way in so many different aspects. Coming here I realised how important it really is. To be part of the upbeats just to see how happy they are to play football reminds me why I started and why I got into football. Days like to today make you realise how lucky you really are. It’s important we all support and get behind the upbeats because they are great people to be around. I have seen today the talent amongst the players and the smiles it had brought to everyone today. It has raised our spirits. It’s been a privilege having the upbeats here. People say it’s just a game but it’s not, it’s far more important than that when you see how happy it can make people and how it can affect people’s lives”.

It was a fantastic day all round and the Upbeats had a great day meeting some of their footballing hero’s.

The Upbeats have a charity walk coming up on the 8 April. To find out more please visit www.cact.org.uk.