Browse Sections

• Education
• James Chapman-Kelly
• Neil Roland
• Mancunian candidate
• Special reports

Cerebral sufferer left out in the cold

Susannah Wright
26/10/2006

A MUM whose son suffers from cerebral palsy fears that he will have nowhere to play roller hockey if Levenshulme's Arcadia Sports Centre remains closed for good.

The Yew Tree Avenue centre was shut earlier this month due to faulty electrics and a leaking roof leading to fears that it may not reopen, as we revealed in last week's Reporter.

But for Xavier Hassell, 9, the centre provides a lifeline that helps him cope with his disability as it is where he plays with Manchester Roller Hockey Club.

Xavier said: "I really like playing roller hockey and the older players all help me.

"I just hope they don't shut it down because I love going there."

His mum, Penny Hassell, said: "My son was over the moon when he was invited to join the roller hockey club despite the fact that he couldn't yet skate and has 'wobbly legs'.

"We went to every available skating session where he was lent all the equipment and even given one-on-one coaching by a boy who currently plays in the England School Boys team - a source of huge pride for my son.

"He loves it there and it's done wonders for his confidence. He is so upset over the fact that it may not open again."

The Hassell family returned to Kingsway Avenue after two years in the Netherlands, and found a welcome relief to some negative attitudes that they had encountered to Xavier's disability abroad.

Manchester City Council says the building has been closed due to health and safety issues and that they are looking to reopen it as soon as possible.

But Levenshulme Liberal Democrat councillor John Commons has warned that it may not reopen at all.

Mrs Hassell said: "The Arcadia might be old and decrepit but one of the good things about it is that there's a gallery down the side where parents can go and watch the kids play.

"Without exception everyone at the club has treated him as one of the team and made him feel equal to the point that he now tells me that he is no longer disabled. In fact the coach told him that there were no disabilities in this club. So long as everyone did their best they were all equal."