Teenager from Neston with nystagmus secures place with England FA

Alfie Colyer, from Neston, was diagnosed with a severe sight impairment called nystagmus at six-weeks-old.

Nystagmus is a term to describe fast, uncontrollable movements of the eyes that may be side to side (horizontal nystagmus) or up and down (vertical nystagmus).

At four-years-old Alfie started to play mainstream football with Neston Nomads FC but in 2019 the FA changed their rules meaning Alfie could no longer play wearing his glasses and would need specific goggles.

His dad, Anthony Colyer, said: "No opticians around here did the goggles he needed and so we thought he was going to have to give up football.

"I put out a post on Facebook and someone high up in Vision Express picked it up and sent a specialist team from Leeds, Nottingham and Middlesbrough to get Alfie some custom-made goggles that he still uses today."

Alfie wearing his goggles to play (Image: Anthony Colyer)

Alfie continued to play for Neston Nomads until last summer. He attended an event at Trafford Centre for the Women's Euros where the England Blind head coach was doing a talk and Anthony gathered some contacts for the Manchester United Ability Counts team and Merseyside Blind & V.I FC.

Anthony added: "Alfie has played for Manchester United this season and played the starring role in them winning their league unbeaten.

"He's also been playing for Merseyside in the National Partially-sighted League and last weekend they also won and have secured a place in this year's Disability FA cup final."

Alfie has shown even with a disability you can still achieve your dreams (Image: Anthony Colyer)

Securing a place with England FA

Two weeks ago after being scouted by England at a match, Alfie attended Nottingham University for an England Para Football assessment day.

He secured a place on the National Emerging Talent Programme and will attend four, three-day camps over the next 12 months at Lilleshall.

The FA's England Para Talent Pathway aims to find players who are ‘hidden’ in mainstream clubs, and whose impairments may not be immediately obvious.

They look for those with cerebral palsy, visual, or hearing impairments who have the skills and a dream, to step up and play for their country.

Anthony said: "This will hopefully put him in a place where in a couple of years he can gain international honours.

"I'm made up for him and I know how much hard work he has had to put in. It just goes to show that if you work hard and persevere the opportunities can still come around, even if you have a disability.

"I wanted to share this to show any other young children who may not think they can get somewhere because they have a similar condition, they absolutely can."