Before that, it might have been a couple more. Same time, same seat, same location at the Port Macquarie Indoor Stadium.

Whitlock noticed this young man had a disability, but his body language indicated one thing – he just wanted to be included.

Whitlock then had a chat with Australian Futsal Association coach Mick Day.

The duo’s conversation quickly turned to people with disabilities locally and if there were sports around for them to be involved in.

The short answer was no – outside of ten pin bowling and the Special Olympics.

“They do a great job, don’t get me wrong, but there isn’t enough variety out there,” Whitlock said.

Twelve months since it became more than just a concept, Port Macquarie can now lay claim to fielding the first All Abilities futsal side in the country.

The initiative is gradually gaining momentum with teams now all over Australia.

“We started in April-May last year and only had four people, but it has absolutely skyrocketed this year and now we have 12 players,” Whitlock said.

“Now we’re looking at expanding and using it at state level.”

The sky is the limit with plans to hold matches against different states including Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

“We’ve got teams popping up everywhere; I had a discussion with a team from Bendigo last week,” Whitlock said.

“It’s giving people with a disability the opportunity to play sport.”

After working with people with disabilities for the last seven years, Whitlock simply wanted to give them something to do.

“I’ve worked with people with disabilities and there was one kid who turned up every week at our all-age training,” he said.

“A lot of the (All Abilities) guys and girls started playing soccer when they were 10 or 11 years old and then they got left behind.”

The initiative between Day and Whitlock continues to grow.

“I’m a believer the people of the program are the ones that guide the program and they deserve to have something,” Whitlock said.

The next step was to arrange a state and then possible national title-type event.

“It’s going to happen; I don’t know where or when, but it’s going to happen.”

The side has even tested themselves against a combined representative futsal team that featured the likes of Shannon Day and Britt Hargreaves.

“They loved it,” Whitlock said.

The team have even made the next step towards representing their state on a national level with the help of clothing manufacturer hummel.

They announced the team will run around in a playing kit that incorporates the traditional blue colours of NSW.

Where to next? Don’t rule out an overseas tour.