Shrewsbury Town Community Sports Trust launch first blind football team

Shrewsbury Town Community Sports Trust (CST) has announced the creation of the first ever blind football team in the club’s history. The CST will partner the Royal National College for the Blind and compete in the National Blind Football League and the BBS Visually Impaired National Football League.

The College provides an opportunity to develop all areas of a blind footballer’s game through expert coaching from trained, experienced staff, with the view to producing players with the ability to compete in both national and international competitions.

All CST staff will complete their ‘Coaching Blind Footballers’ award as part of the partnership. On Monday 21 July 2014 the First team players and management will receive a taster in blind football when the England Blind team visit the Greenhous Meadow.

CST Manager Jamie Edwards said:

“We are delighted to have the premier college for blind students in the country as a partner. Having a team represent Shrewsbury Town Football Club in the Blind National League is a first. And we are now one of only a handful professional football clubs supporting blind football. Blind and Visually Impaired football is the start of Disability Sport the we aim to deliver.”

RNC Head of Sport/England Blind Football Manager Jonathan Pugh said:

“The partnership will hopefully raise awareness of blind football across Shropshire and ultimately increase the number of players playing blind football across the country.” 

Image: Jonathan Pugh England Blind Team Head Coach and Tony Larkin (Former Town player and now RNC Director of Enterprise).

Article from FC Business online news website