PAUL SPINKS REPRESENTS GREAT BRITAIN

St Albans City Youth Disability Team and Special Olympic Player Paul Spink was extremely honoured to be representing the GB squad at a 5 day international football competition in Zurich.

Paul was selected for the Special Olympic Great Britain Football Team in October 2007 following a series of trials. During February and March 2008 Paul attended GB squad training in the North East and in Scotland in preparation for the international competition.
 

The event attracted 24 teams from countries all over Europe. The event started on 2nd May with a series of divisioning matches against Serbia, Belgium and Iceland, winning two of the three games the squad went on to play Poland, Greece and Germany. As a result of a successful win over Poland in one of the finals the GB squad qualified in third place, taking home the bronze medal.

Paul commented ‘To be playing for my National Team is a great honour, I loved the excitement of the competition, coming home with a medal was great, it’s a memory that will stay with me forever.’

Paul would like to thank a number of organizations who provided financial support to help him attend GB Squad training sessions in the North East and Scotland. Paul received £200 from (follow your dreams), £100 from (St Albans Rotary) and £200 from (The Celle Barnes Trust)

Paul has been a member of Special Olympics St Albans Squad for 3 years and also plays for the St Albans City and District Disability Football Club. Without the support of Special Olympics Paul would not have been given the opportunity to play for his country.

Paul being interviewed for local TV

Special Olympics St Albans is a registered charity which aims to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for people eight years of age and older with a learning disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate achievement, experience enjoyment and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with a learning disability can learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports.

Paul is now looking forward to playing more football in the UK and hopes to take part in the SO national games in Leicester 2009, we wish him every success.

If you would like more information on Special Olympics St Albans please contact Emily Onley, Special Olympics Co-ordinator on 01727 827667.

For more information on the St Albans City Youth Disability Team contact  Disability Development Officer Daniel Rogers on 01727 762843.

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