The only Brighton & Hove Albion player to report for England duty at St George’s Park during the international break has been talking about his experience of being part of the national team set-up for the first time.Matt Francis who is a member of the Brighton & Hove Albion Albion's powerchair football team, run by Albion in the Community and currently enjoying their first season in the WFA (Wheelchair Football Association) Premiership, joined up with the national powerchair squad for a special two-day training camp at the FA’s new national training centre in Burton-upon-Trent.
It marks an incredible rise in the sport for the 16-year-old from Angmering in West Sussex who is affected by Syrinx, a spinal condition meaning he is unable to walk. Matt is categorised as a PF2 category player in powerchair football, a four-a-side version of the game, as a result of having good control of his arm, head and neck movements.
He first got involved in wheelchair sport five years ago, taking part in local sessions run by AITC, but only started playing competitive powerchair football for the Albion team run by AITC’s Nikki Richardson in 2011. He was called up for England and the training camp after impressing in the team’s early games in their first season in the Premiership.
During the get together, the 12-man squad took part in technical sessions and training matches, led by a team of specialist coaches, and stayed at the centre’s on-site hotel with the England Schoolboys team, ahead of their Home International clash with Wales.
On his return from St Georges Park, Matt told seagulls.co.uk, “It was an amazing experience from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. We were treated in exactly the same way as Wayne Rooney and the rest of England squad. We were given full kit, had to sign the England players' Code of conduct and have full medical assessments.
We had specialist physios, video analysts, dieticians, mechanics for our powerchairs – the back-up team and set-up was incredible."
With the squad made up of players with greater experience, drawn from more established Premiership teams, Matt was understandably nervous about how he would fare over the two days.
He explained, “In the days leading up to going I really wasn’t sure how I would get on especially knowing the quality of the other players that were in the squad. But I grew in confidence and learned so much over the two days. The quality of the coaching and the standard of football was on another level.”
Club chairman Tony Bloom added, “Everyone at the club is extremely proud of Matt’s call-up. To be chosen to play for your country at football, particularly at such as young age, is an amazing achievement. It is also fantastic recognition for everyone involved in our Powerchair team which has been a real success story over the last year.”
Matt is hoping to be part of the 8-man England squad for next summer’s European Championships although his immediate focus will on the club’s next Premiership fixtures on November 2nd against Bolton Bullets and Celtic Storm.
You can find out more about powerchair football and follow the progress of Brighton & Hove Albion team at the WFA website.
Original article
It marks an incredible rise in the sport for the 16-year-old from Angmering in West Sussex who is affected by Syrinx, a spinal condition meaning he is unable to walk. Matt is categorised as a PF2 category player in powerchair football, a four-a-side version of the game, as a result of having good control of his arm, head and neck movements.
He first got involved in wheelchair sport five years ago, taking part in local sessions run by AITC, but only started playing competitive powerchair football for the Albion team run by AITC’s Nikki Richardson in 2011. He was called up for England and the training camp after impressing in the team’s early games in their first season in the Premiership.
During the get together, the 12-man squad took part in technical sessions and training matches, led by a team of specialist coaches, and stayed at the centre’s on-site hotel with the England Schoolboys team, ahead of their Home International clash with Wales.
On his return from St Georges Park, Matt told seagulls.co.uk, “It was an amazing experience from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. We were treated in exactly the same way as Wayne Rooney and the rest of England squad. We were given full kit, had to sign the England players' Code of conduct and have full medical assessments.
We had specialist physios, video analysts, dieticians, mechanics for our powerchairs – the back-up team and set-up was incredible."
With the squad made up of players with greater experience, drawn from more established Premiership teams, Matt was understandably nervous about how he would fare over the two days.
He explained, “In the days leading up to going I really wasn’t sure how I would get on especially knowing the quality of the other players that were in the squad. But I grew in confidence and learned so much over the two days. The quality of the coaching and the standard of football was on another level.”
Club chairman Tony Bloom added, “Everyone at the club is extremely proud of Matt’s call-up. To be chosen to play for your country at football, particularly at such as young age, is an amazing achievement. It is also fantastic recognition for everyone involved in our Powerchair team which has been a real success story over the last year.”
Matt is hoping to be part of the 8-man England squad for next summer’s European Championships although his immediate focus will on the club’s next Premiership fixtures on November 2nd against Bolton Bullets and Celtic Storm.
You can find out more about powerchair football and follow the progress of Brighton & Hove Albion team at the WFA website.
Original article