Heartbreak turns to hope for Euros challenge

Captain of the England Blind Football squad, Keryn Seal, from Exeter, led his team through an impressive group stage of the IBSA World Games in Seoul, South Korea, to the final against Argentina.

The team narrowly lost out in the dying seconds of the match, securing themselves silver medals and a confidence boost as they head into the IBSA Blind Football European Championships 2015.

2015 is Keryn’s tenth year in the England side, which he has also captained for two years following the retirement of Dave Clarke. As a senior player, he has experienced the highs and lows of tournament football, including playing at the London 2012 Paralympics for Great Britain. He currently holds 95 Caps for England and will likely reach his 100th Cap during the Blind Euros in front of a home crowd.

“We were 37 seconds away from our first major tournament victory as an England or Great Britain team in nearly 20 years of trying. Were it not for some inexperienced refereeing in that final, we would be here with gold medals and not another silver one to add to our collections,” said a disappointed Keryn, following their return to British soil. “However, I know that in the years to come I will look back on this silver with much more pride than the others. The reason is we were good enough and played well enough to win that final.”

Playing conditions in Seoul were challenging, with average game temperatures of 22°C and high humidity. The standard of opposition was high, with every team except Georgia ranked higher than England. The team rose to the challenge admirably, with three wins and one draw taking them through to the final, scoring 13 goals and conceding none. Argentina is currently the second best team in the world, and the England team performed in one of the best games of football Keryn has been involved with in a decade.

“The World Games has given us tremendous belief going into the European Championships this August. Before this tournament we had gone 13 games unbeaten in a long string of friendly matches. But to give five excellent and sometimes hard-fought performances back-to-back in a tournament format really shows us the strength of where we are currently,” reflected Keryn.

Looking ahead to one of the most pivotal tournaments of his career, Keryn is delighted to be the home nation of the Blind Euros. With the championships taking place at thePoint4, part of The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) in Hereford, the 33 year old from Exeter explained how the home support given in Hereford will be of great importance to the team, many of whom have come through RNC as students.

“It is always a boost to any home nation in a sports competition and blind football is no different. We received excellent support in Hereford back in 2010 for the World Championships and we look forward to much more of the same this year. The people of Hereford are always very knowledgeable about the game and seem to have an affinity with the team; probably due to the city’s excellent relationship with the College.”

thePoint4 is RNC’s inclusive fitness centre and hosts the national blind football league games throughout the year, as well as being a regular training base for the England team. Having hosted the World Championships in 2010, they are well equipped to stage this major tournament, where the top two finishers will qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The Blind Euros is set to be the largest disability sports event since the London 2012 Paralympics and provides an affordable family-friendly day out for spectators from across the country.

The Welsh-born Captain of England hopes the ticket sales are a success and will bring spectators from the South West of England. “I’d like for them to sell out for every one of our games. Most of our matches are in the evenings, which make them suitable for people who work during the daytime. I’m looking forward to my family coming up from Exeter and South Wales to support me, too.”

To purchase tickets to the IBSA Blind Football European Championships 2015, visit http://tickets.rncb.ac.uk/ The tournament takes place between 22 and 29 August at thePoint4, The Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford.