The University of Nottingham's Goalball Club, the Nottinghamshire Sheriffs, has been shortlisted for the Nottinghamshire Sport Club of the Year 2013. The awards take place at East Midlands Conference Centre on Monday 20 January 2014, and will see the club up against some strong opposition in Attenborough Cricket Club, Collingham Tennis Club, Hucknall Netball Club and Nottingham Rowing Club.
Based at the University's Sutton Bonington Campus, the club is a partnership between My Sight Nottinghamshire and The University of Nottingham. It was set up just over three years ago and is now recognised as one of the country’s leading goalball clubs, catering for visually impaired students and members of the local community.
The club offers valuable opportunities for people to experience a sport that is fast and fun and great for coordination, strength and fitness as well as the chance to play for representative teams.
Open to anyone over the age of 14, the club has developed during its three year existence to support three teams in the national leagues at novice, intermediate and elite level. The elite team is made up of three potential and one existing Great Britain player. They are also doing outreach work with local colleges and schools to raise awareness of the sport countywide.
Often hosting national goalball competitions the club has also run goalball development days, which have also helped to develop Nottinghamshire’s reputation as one of the leading counties for disability sport.
University of Nottingham Disability Sport Officer Hannah Webber and Faye Dale of My Sight Nottinghamshire have been instrumental in the development of the club and are thrilled to be shortlisted.
Hannah Webber said: “We are really pleased to be shortlisted for this award that recognises the work of all of our volunteers and the successful partnership between the University and My Sight Nottinghamshire. In three years, the club has expanded beyond all expectations and we are looking forward to a very successful future growing this exciting paralympic sport within Nottinghamshire.”
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