He currently plays for 61FC in the Spartan South Midlands Football League and his manager at the club, Beds FA Chairman Richard Everitt said “Everybody at 61 FC are very proud of what Liam has achieved, it is a reward for lots of hard work and dedication which Liam has put into his game.  We wish him well in Rio and all at 61 FC will be following the progress of Team GB with great interest. He has been with us for 5 seasons and his elder brother plays for us as well”

Liam also plays for Saints FC on Sundays and was spotted playing for the Sunday side by an opposition manager who also has cerebral palsy. He suggested Liam contacted the national coach Jeff Davis who sent down a scout to watch Liam and he was invited to train with the squad. Until 6 months ago, he didn’t even know there was a CP team and has always played mainstream football. The opportunity to play for Team GB was something he had only dreamed about but in the last 6 months, his attitude and commitment to his game has changed completely. Liam says “It has completely changed my approach to football as now I'm training 6 days a week which include strength and conditioning with a coach and lots of sprint and agility work . They have also taught me to play a lot calmer and relaxed which has improved my decision making on and off the ball”

This will be his first major competition although he has already represented the team at a pre-Paralympic tournament in Spain and scored in his debut against Ireland. The squad meet for 4 days each month at St George’s Park, which Liam describes as “an amazing place”

Liam attended Mill Vale Middle School and Queensbury Upper then went on to complete a Diploma in Business Studies at Dunstable College. He now work as a qualified green keeper at Mid Herts Golf Club in Wheathampstead and is qualified to level 3 in sports turf management and a is also a qualified spray technician.

For anybody who has never seen CP football, it is a 7 a-side fast-paced, tough tackling game with lots of technique and skill. It has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1984 and this year teams from 8 nations have qualified for the finals in Rio. There are seven players from each team on the pitch – in addition to seven on the bench. Because there is no off side rule, matches are open and exciting with teams able to adopt a more direct, attacking style.  Throw-ins can be completed with one hand, rolling the ball onto the playing field. Matches last 60 minutes, divided into two 30-minute halves, with a 15-minute interval between them.

The players are ranked according to their degree of physical impairment. The scale ranges from 5 to 8 – the lower the number, the greater the limitation. Each team must have at least one class 5 or 6 athlete and no more than one class 8 athlete on the pitch.  Current World and 2012 Paralympic champions are Russia who will be hoping to retain their crown but Liam and his team mates are training hard and will be hoping to get into the medals.

Liam says “Having had the great coaching I have received, I definitely think I would love to get into coaching when I can't play anymore, to share all I have learnt with local clubs and players. Finally, I would just like to add that any disabled players playing mainstream football should make sure they try and get in touch with Jeff Davies because the possibilities could be life-changing-it has been for me. “

Bedfordshire FA wishes Liam the best of luck in Rio and we will be following him throughout the tournament. If you want to tune in and follow his progress, the matches will be shown on Channel 4 between 8^th and 16^th September.

If you would like to get involved in football, regardless of ability or disability, we would like to hear from you. Disability sessions run across the county and you can contact Josh Spavins for full details of our local groups. Josh.spavins@bedfordshirefa.com 

Further information on local Disability Football sessions can be found HERE