Hereford-based Great Britain Blind football squad all set for London Paralympics (From Hereford Times)

Hereford-based Great Britain Blind football squad all set for London Paralympics

12:56pm Wednesday 1st August 2012 in Other By Ian Morgan

GREAT Britain’s Blind football squad have completed their final Hereford training camp in preparation for the Paralympic Games.

Tony Larkin’s team will open their London account against Spain on Friday, August 31.

“We’re all really excited about competing at a home Games, but we’re focused on the job we have to do,” said Larkin, the ex-Hereford United skipper.

“The effort from the entire squad has been fantastic. We know from our preparations just how much we’ve developed as a team and we are aiming to be on the podium.”

The Great Britain Blind football squad are based at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) in Hereford.

They have been preparing at RNC’s sport and fitness facility, thePoint.

Larkin, who is also the director of business at RNC said” “RNC’s facilities for blind football are second to none, best demonstrated when RNC hosted the IBSA World Blind Football Championships in 2010. Having a training facility of this quality has been fantastic.” 

After finishing fifth at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008, Larkin acknowledges they will face tough competition.

“There’s never an easy game at this level, but we’ve worked hard in training and have a good depth in the squad,” he said.

“We have a great mix of experienced players and a crop of young players who have developed through RNC’s Football Academy – we’re confident we will perform well.”

RNC’s principal, Sheila Tallon, said: “The College is very proud of our association with such a talented group of athletes and we are delighted to have a number of current students and RNC graduates in the GB squad.”

The GB Blind Football team are in Pool A and will also play Argentina and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the group stage.