Alison, from Worthing, is a relative newcomer to the world of blind football.
Alison is visually impaired and plays in Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation’s blind football sessions.
Before joining the Foundation, she’d never managed to find a sport where she fit in.
“I’ve always been visually impaired, and previously I’d only ever played in mainstream sport,” she said.
“I was always left to the outside or made to just watch, I wasn’t really allowed to participate.”
That changed in November last year, when Alison took the plunge and decided to try something new.
(c) Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation
“I went to a British Blind Sport ‘Have a Go’ day, and football was one of the sports they were doing,” Alison said.
“I just gave it a go and went for it. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not.”
As it happened, Alison had a great time. She was ready to start playing more regularly.
“One of the coaches who works with my children was there, and she invited me down to try out a session with the BHAFC Foundation.
“I came along and slowly started building up a bit of confidence, getting my technique a bit better. Slowly, it’s starting to pay off – not with scoring goals yet though!”
(c) Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation
Alison has made great progress in recent months. She loves playing, and for the first time she feels like she has coaches who understand her.
“I really enjoy it. I think the best bit for me is how responsive the coaches are. The coaches listen to us, ask us what we’re enjoying.
“They help us to build up our skills and or teamwork, but we’re all so different and want to work on different things, and the coaches always make time for us.
“They’re very good at listening. None of them are blind or visually impaired but they’re excellent at taking on board how we communicate with each other and they use that in the sessions.”
(c) Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation
One of the things Alison appreciates most of all is simply being treated like an adult, and not being patronised.
“Being able to be in an environment where I’m allowed to compete, I’m allowed to be good at something, without being made to feel like it’s being dumbed down or made easy, that’s massively important to me,” Alison said.
“When you’ve got a disability you’re very used to people talking to you in a certain way, but when we’re here on this pitch we’re all treated with respect, we’re all treated as equals, and we’re all encouraged.
“It’s so refreshing. Thank you to all the people who help make it possible.”
Find out more about our disability football membership programme.
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