ENGLAND'S blind football team put in an impressive display at the IBSA World Games in South Korea.

The side, which is based at Hereford's Royal National College for the Blind, progressed through the group stages before being edged out by Argentina in a close final.

The tournament was welcome preparation for England ahead of the IBSA Blind Football European Championships in Hereford this August.

Captain Keryn Seal, who is in his tenth year with the squad, said a refereeing decision cost his side a World Games gold.

“We were 37 seconds away from our first major tournament victory as an England or Great Britain team in nearly 20 years of trying," he said.

"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.

"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.”

Seal, 33, has 95 England caps and is likely to top 100 during the Euros which takes place at the RNC on Venns Lane.

Playing conditions in Seoul were challenging, with average game temperatures of 22°C, coupled with high humidity.

The standard of opposition was also high, with every team except Georgia ranked higher than England.

The team secured three wins and one draw, taking them through to the final.

“The World Games has given us tremendous belief going into the European Championships," added Seal.

"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."

Seal says he is delighted the Euros will be staged in Hereford.

“It is always a boost to any home nation in a sports competition and blind football is no different," he said.

"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.”

The tournament kicks off on August 22 when England take on Poland, with the final taking place a week later.

Tickets are available at http://tickets.rncb.ac.uk/