Weiler, who is also a specialist registrar in sports and exercise medicine and is the medical officer at Coca-Cola Championship club Watford, is trying to encourage more doctors to recommend the sport to their patients suffering from cerebral palsy.

He said: "Not many people know the sport exists and the health benefits of encouraging exercise in this group, not to mention the peer group support."

Some footballers are now eligible to play cerebral palsy football following head trauma, stroke and meningitis.

Weiler said: "GPs are fundamental as they will be involved in care for many patients with cerebral palsy and acquired brain injury and may consider mentioning the sport if they were aware of it being appropriate."

The sport is played seven-a-side in the Paralympics with a number of other modifications, including a reduced field of play, elimination of the offside law and permission for one-handed throw-ins.

Matches consist of two 30-minute halves.

Britain fielded a team at the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008, where the team finished bottom of its group which included Iran, the eventual gold medallists.

But  hopes are high of success at London 2012.

Last year the squad, under manager Lyndon Lynch, a former top non-league striker with Bishop's Strotford, went to Australia in May and won the Arafura Games, beating Australia in the final with goals from Michael Wilson and Richard Fox.

The squad followed this up by winning the Home Nations tournament in July beating the Republic of Ireland 3-1 and Scotland 1-0.

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