ENGLAND blind football coach Jon Pugh is delighted that the IBSA Blind Football European Championships is being held in Hereford.

The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) will host the games at its flagship point4 facility next August.

Pugh lives in the city and knows first hand the legacy it can leave after seeing the World Championships being held successfully in Hereford in 2010.

The former Westfields goalkeeper has been in charge of the England team since February and believes the team have the capabilities of winning it.

"I am delighted that it is being played in Hereford because it is totally made for us and we are really confident with the pitch," said Pugh.

"It means we will be able practice on it more than anyone else.

"The goal will be to win it.

"We are on a 10-game unbeaten run and the lads are reacting really well.

"We didn't qualify for the World Championships, so we are trying to get a fixture before Christmas and two after it.

"We have got the World Games in Seoul next May as well, which will feature eight to 10 teams from all over the world."

Hereford held a very successful IBSA World Championships in 2010, in which England finished fourth.

The team, led by Pugh and former head coach Tony Larkin, then guided England to third place at the European Championships in Turkey the following year.

But the team flopped at the London 2012 Paralympics and finished a disappointing seventh out of eight teams.

Larkin and Pugh lost their roles in December 2012, with Graham Keeley taking the reins.

But Keeley left the following summer after the team finished a disappointing eight at the European Championships.

England must finish in the top two this time around to qualify for the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016.

After returning to the side, Pugh hopes that a goal home support could prove to be the catalyst to help the team in their quest.

"We had 9,000 people through the gates, for the 2010 World Championships when it was held in Hereford, so it should be well supported again," said Pugh.

"Hereford people should embrace it.

"We were disappointed not to get a medal match during those games, but a lot has happened since.

"We pride ourselves on being technically good and we have got two or three new players are embracing that.

"Going forward, we have got one of the best dribblers in Robin Williams and, in my opinion, Dan James is the world's best goalkeeper."