President Paul Russell together with members of the Winchester Rotary Youth Team experienced the privilege of meeting the Winchester Goalball club young players, their trainers, parents and volunteers. We enjoyed watching several games which are played at Peter Symonds sports hall.
Our longstanding relationship with Winchester Goalball Club goes back to its foundation in 2013. After Adam Knott and his brother David played in Winchester 2012 Paralympics GB Goalball team, Adam dreamed of launching a local club in Winchester. With great commitment from Adam and his mother, Bridget, together with Rotarian David Farthing, who through Winchester Rotary offered unwavering moral and financial support, their dream became a reality. As President Paul said, “We are incredibly proud of the long record of cooperation between the two clubs – some 12 years plus.”
Goalball is an exciting, demanding, skilfull, Paralympic indoor sport of attack and defend, designed for those who are blind or partially sighted. It is played on a volley ball sized court with 3 man teams trying to score against each other into 9m wide goals. The ball has a bell inside it, court lines are raised with string so that they are tactile and all players are blindfolded to assure a level playing field. In stark contrast to the roar of the normal football field, Goalball is played in comlete silence to enable the players to make full use of their enhanced hearing skills. Young people from the age of 8 years upwards play Goalball. The Winchester Club has progressed from strength to strength and is now one of the largest in the country.
The highlight of the present season has been the success of the team in the Malmo Open European Event. This was the club’s fifth appearance in Malmo, resulting in their best ever result – 4 players and 2 coaches bringing home a silver medal, putting the club without doubt on the goalball map. Bridget Knott, Club Treasurer, thanked Winchester Rotary for their financial support which enabled the club to send these 2 volunteers.
With the future of the club in mind, a very successful ‘taster session’ has recently been held, headed up by Lisa Clifton, Club Secretary, resulting in 7 eager young members attending; they will be key to the future of the club.
On entering the Goalball Club one is immediately surrounded by young voices chattering and laughing. Friendship is evident everywhere: our warm welcome, the enthusiasm and comradeship between the trainers and players, the support of parents and volunteers. As Bridget mentioned there have been many unexpected benefits which were not foreseen when the club was first founded. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts is the confidence and social skills these young players gain – fitting them for the challenges life will bring in the future.
Diana Brooks
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