A man from Armadale will compete in one of the UK’s top disability football events this month, after his team reached the final of the FA Disability Cup.
Neil Atkinson (26) was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease at 17 – a rare genetic eye condition that causes progressive vision loss. He now plays for Merseyside Blind & VI FC, who will face Birmingham in the Partially Sighted Final at St George’s Park on 28 June.
“It’s a huge achievement for us as a group,” said Atkinson. “To reach the showpiece fixture at the end of the season is a reward for the hard work we’ve done over the past 10 months.”
Merseyside have already won the league and the league cup this season, and Atkinson says the squad showed particular resilience during the final of the latter.
“We had to play a lot of games with a very small squad on the day, but the commitment was there. We deserve to be in the FA Cup final.”
Atkinson says that competitions like the FA Disability Cup give players with visual impairments a valuable opportunity to play sport at a high level. “I believe that many of the players in our league would stand a chance at the professional game if it wasn’t for their sight loss,” he said. “To have an alternative where we can reach the highest level in our own format is really important.”
Although he has limited vision, Atkinson continues to play in a mainstream futsal league in Scotland, where his team, Nerazzurri, are also in contention for a trophy. “I’m probably feeling as fit as I have going into any of the FA Cup finals I’ve played in,” he said. “Training and playing with sighted players every week has helped me develop.”
He has also recently been invited back into the England Partially Sighted squad and will join them for a training camp in Turkey this July.
“It’s exciting to be back involved with the England set-up,” he said. “The trip to Turkey will be my first time travelling with the squad, so I’m looking forward to that. But first, I’m focused on finishing the season strongly.”
Away from the court, Neil works as a Community Social Action Coordinator for RNIB Scotland, where he supports blind and partially sighted people across the country. “Sight loss can be incredibly isolating, so my role focuses on helping people connect with others,” he explains. “I manage a team of volunteers who run regular social groups and activities, and I also deliver awareness sessions to local organisations so they can be more accessible.”
Atkinson encourages others with visual impairments to get involved in sport at any level.
“Playing in the British Partially Sighted Football League changed my life,” he said. “It gave me the chance to keep playing football at a high level, even after my sight got worse. I’d recommend it to anyone in a similar position.”
