The event gave Down's Syndrome teams from across England the opportunity to show of their skills in the professional surroundings of Fulham's training ground on Sunday, writes Claire Harmer.
With the help of a donation of £19,333  from the Premier League and Football Aid, the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) invited nine teams, 84 players and their families to enjoy a special day that marks the start of this year's annual Down's Syndrome awareness events, coming just a day before World Down's Syndrome Day on Monday 21st March.
Not only did the players have the chance to take part in what was for many their first competitive football tournament, the day also provided an ideal opportunity for disability coaches from all over the country to develop their skills and gain a better understanding of Down's Syndrome football.
After a warm-up, the players were split into two groups; older (13 plus) and younger (12 and under). The younger group engaged in football activities including Dribble Relay and Ring of Fire capping their day off with fun match. The older group played a round robin in six-a-side format with each match lasting eight minutes, with each team playing six matches.
After the festival, coaches attended a workshop to discuss the special considerations that are needed when working with Down's Syndrome players, how to set up a team and how to get the local community involved.
During the session, a new coaches resource produced by the Down's Syndrome Association, was unveiled which has been designed to address the bespoke needs of players with Down's Syndrome.
FANTASTIC PROGRAMME
Patricia James, the Down's Syndrome's Association's Corporate Manager and head of DSActive, the Down Syndrome Association's football programme, explained how the event came about, saying: "This is the first time we've done a national football festival. 

"The Premier League Down's Syndrome festival has brought together nine teams, from London based-clubs, Cardiff City, Hereford and Hull. We held a festival last year for the London based teams, which Fulham kindly hosted and we've made it a national tournament this year.
"For most of these kids it's the first time they've engaged in a match setting, so they've been able to use the skills they've learned at training and apply them to a match. It's not really about winning or losing but it's about participation.
"DSActive is a fantastic programme bringing football to people with Down's Syndrome and days like this prove to everyone how well people with Down's Syndrome can engage with football. It's getting them to learn the fundamentals which this programme focuses on.
"Hopefully it will be the first of many events and now, with the credibility of being able to say the Premier League and Football Aid have put their quality stamp on it, we will be able to attract future funding for the Down's Syndrome Association. There is no doubt about it, this wouldn't have been possible without the support of the Premier League.
GREAT SUCCESS
Former Sunderland, Everton and Wigan Athletic star Kevin Kilbane, whose seven-year old daughter has Down's Syndrome, was there in his role as patron for the Down's Syndome Association and hailed the day a great success.
"It's been a great event. There are so many teams involved now, which has been the key to the event being the success it is. It's wonderful to see.
"I became involved with the Down's Syndrome Association seven years ago. My daughter has Down's Syndrome and I contacted them just for support at first, to try and see what the future had in store. Since then the DSA asked me to do a few events for them and to become a patron of the charity.
"It's great that we've got the Premier League and Football Aid on board, because without them events like this wouldn't be able to happen.'