TAVISTOCK Community Sports Centre and Tavistock College will host the 2014 Devon FA Son-Rise Cup for Autism Football Festival on the weekend of May 24 and 25.

The event, which started in October 2006, was to help a four year-old boy called Paul Lewis with severe autism to communicate and speak.

The success of the Son-Rise Programme of America treatment for autism therapy is well known in the Tavistock area as Paul's father Allen used his love of football and horses to raise tens of thousands of pounds to help his son. From a child who at the age of four was mute and had no eye contact Paul now attends Tavistock College supported by their trained staff in the Special needs centre.

A strong committee runs the ever growing event — led by local business people and footballers, coaches , Devon FA officials, maintainance team and many volunteers..

Allen Lewis said: 'We look forward to seeing all the children, youth, girls, ladies , disability and mens football teams next year and put a big smile on footballs face in World Cup Year!'

The event in 2014 will be to support Action4autism and to continue to help other local good causes.