Hereford hailed for staging ‘best-ever’ IBSA World Blind Football Championship

Brazil deservedly won the title and England finished fourth – their highest placing at the world competition.

FA spokesman Jeff Davies said Herefordshire’s support had been wonderful for the eight-day event at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC).

“The city and the county have embraced the tournament and all the teams and officials have agreed it's been the best World Championship that they have ever had,” said Davies, the FA’s National development manager for disability football.

It was the first time the World Championship had been held in the UK and tickets for the last three days were sold out well in advance.

Davies said: “The people of Hereford and the college should be very proud because it's been a wonderful event. We have had 85 unpaid volunteers who have done a wonderful job and, with the event organisation staff, there’s been 125 people working each day. It's a wonderful facility here and, in the future, we might well be looking to hold European Championships and other major events.”

Brazil were the outstanding team in the 10-nation competition and beat Spain 2-0 in last Sunday’s final to lift the IBSA World Blind Championship for the third time.

The Samba Boys shattered England’s World Championship dreams, beating the host nation 5-1 in the semi-final.

England finished fourth after losing 1-0 to China in a play-off for third-place.

The outdoor pitch at thePoint4 was transformed into an arena with a 400-seater stand built behind one of the goals and seating erected along one side. There was also a VIP area and a spectators’ village.

England head coach Tony Larkin, the former Hereford United defender, said: "I don't like losing, but we have reached our goal of getting to the semi-finals. I don't think the scoreline against Brazil did us justice because it looks as if they hammered us but they didn't. We had to go for our chances and we left room.”

Former Westfields goalkeeper Jon Pugh is England’s assistant coach and the squad included RNC students Dan English and Jonathan Heenan.

Ledbury-based Lewis Skyers was one of the sighted goalkeepers, captain Dave Clarke is an RNC trustee and Jonathan Gribbin lives in Abergavenny. Will Norman, Keryn Seal and Robin Williams all play their domestic blind football at Worcester.

l Main results from the tournament: Final: Brazil 2 Spain 0; Third-place play-off: China 1 England 0; Semi-finals: Spain 1 China 0, Brazil 5 England 1. Other selected results: Group A: England 0 Spain 1, England 2 South Korea 1, England 2 Japan 0, England 1 Colombia 0.

LEGENDARY England goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who won the World Cup at Wembley in 1966, visited the Hereford tournament on finals day.

It was the first time he had watched blind football.

"It has been wonderful and I have been very surprised at the skill that has been portrayed," said Banks, a pundit with The New Football Pools.

"It has been well organised with lovely facilities. When you think these players have travelled from around the world, it is incredible.

"This is the first time I have ever seen blind football and it has been absolutely spectacular."

Brazil’s Jefferson Goncalves was named Player of the tournament.

The striker was the most outstanding player in the competition.

China’s Feng Ya Wang was the Young player of the tournament and Spain’s Alfredo Gonzalez was voted the best goalkeeper.

The Mayor of Hereford, councillor Anna Toon, presented the Fair Play trophy to Japan.

Meanwhile, Herefordshire referees development officer Sean Dipple received a medal at the closing ceremony. Dipple was the tournament’s referee liaison officer.