FORMER Premier League footballer Danny Mills has kept tabs with the England Blind Football team after visiting thePoint4 for a documentary on the sport four years ago.

Mills, who played at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, said he was blown away with how good the players were.

"We were just asked to come down and be part of a documentary trying to promote blind football as best we could," said Mills, who has been watching the IBSA Blind Football European Championships at thePoint4 this week.

"It was myself, Kenny Sansom, Malcolm Christie and Andy Cole and we were stood on the pitch watching the lads train.

"We were like, 'this is not real'. the guys were that good.

"I knew a bit about blind football and that there was a bell in the ball but I expected it to be really slow.

"I turned up and was like 'wow, this is incredible'.

"The speed they were moving the ball and the passing skills they had, playing one-two's off the boards, everything that was going on blew us away.

"We spent the next two or three days here, getting to know a bit more about blind football and the lads involved and the college here.

"We tried out blind football and living as a blind person for half a day.

"It suddenly developed a real respect for what I thought was beyond possible for the guys and all the challenges they've got to live up to.

"I've been involved ever since trying to support the guys as best as possible and hoping at the very minimum that England get to the final as that gets them on the road to Rio next year, but hopefully I'll be here on Saturday seeing them pick up a trophy.

"The last time in the Olympics didn't go as well as planned, but it was a difficult time.

"But I think now they're more prepared and train better.

"This facility has enabled them to train harder and more often and the coaches and the players are more experienced.

"Hopefully they put on a fantastic performance and do themselves proud and make it to Rio."

Mills added that he has been impressed with how well organised this week's tournament has been.

"The Point4 is a fantastic facility and is purpose built for the blind," he said.

"You can come here and it is a very homely feeling.

"It is very easy sometimes for sighted to not know the true perspective of what is like.

"But having played a bit of blind football and lived with a blindfold for a very short time, you do get a sense of how difficult the challenges are at times, but this facility provides the best preparation and provides the best football.

"The whole event is so well organised and I love the media stuff.

"Everything looks so much more professional and is a real team international experience for the lads."