A HEREFORD player was part of a University of Worcester team which has won a major international blind football tournament in the Czech Republic.

Jon Heenan, who studied at Hereford’s Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) and still lives in the city, was in the side that took on and defeated some of Europe’s finest sides on their way to victory in the fourth Bucovice Blind Football Cup.

The competition, held by Masaryk University in the south of Moravia, is considered to be the best competition for blind football outside of the Paralympics.

England players Keryn Seal, Will Norman, Robin Williams, Dan James, Roy Turnham and Darren Harris were also part of the team/

In the group stages, the University of Worcester defeated Anderlecht, from Belgium, 1-0, ASD Liguria from Italy, 2-1 and St. Pauli FC, from Germany, 2-0.

The following day they beat Pirsos Thessaloniki from Greece 2-0 in the semi-final before going on to win the final 2-0 against the pre-tournament favourites and German Bundesliga Champions, Marburg FC.

The University of Worcester side, who were FA National Futsal League Champions in four out of six years, have developed the game alongside the work of the English FA and the RNC.

“The strength and depth in European blind football is pretty awesome, not only at the international level, but at the club level too," said Seal.

“Many of the clubs here could give most international teams a good game.

“Although many of the players in the Worcester team are now full England internationals, the University of Worcester is where it all started for us, and so it’s great to be able to take the club we love overseas, and enjoy this kind of success.”