Photo credit: Goalball Clubs World Cup
The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) Women’s Goalball team has secured a silver medal at their inaugural Goalball Clubs World Cup appearance in Finland.
The team demonstrated exceptional skill, resilience, and teamwork throughout the tournament, culminating in a historic podium finish.
RNC’s journey began with a mixed bag of results. They faced a tough opening match against current silver medal holders, Brazil’s Sesi SP, ultimately losing 7-2.
Despite the defeat, RNC showcased their defensive strength, preventing a larger deficit. The afternoon, however, saw a significant turnaround as RNC dominated Swedish side FIFH Malmö with a decisive 6-3 victory, setting a positive tone for the rest of the competition.
Day 2 kicked off with a commanding 8-3 victory over Goalball South Australia, followed by another impressive win, defeating Germany’s Rostocker Goalballclub Hansa e.V. 6-1.
These strong performances earned RNC a well-deserved second place in Group X, securing their spot in the knockout stages.
Day 3 witnessed RNC’s ascent to the final. In the quarter finals, they delivered an emphatic performance, sweeping aside Füchse Berlin with a dominant 8-0 victory. This set up a semi-final clash against the formidable and undefeated Finnish side, Old Power, who hadtopped Group Y. RNC once again displayed their class and determination, securing another impressive 8-3 win, propelling them into the coveted final against Sesi SP.
The Final on Day 4 saw RNC battle bravely against Sesi, ultimately finishing 7-2 to the Brazilian side. Despite the result, the silver medal is an astounding achievement for a team that entered the competition with no prior expectations of a podium finish, and RNC’s overall performance throughout the tournament was exceptional.
‘Winning silver at the Clubs World Cup with the team was amazing,’ said Player, Megan Smithson-Booth. ‘Representing the College and being the only UK team out there was a proud moment. We had some really tough teams in our pool, but we came together on court with our defence, attack, and teamwork – it was a real team effort.
“It was fab having Lihi Ben David, a Paralympic medallist, as part of our team and having the opportunity to play alongside an athlete with so much experience. I feel so grateful to be part of the RNC Sports Academy and grateful to our coaches and staff for making it possible.
“I believe what we achieved has definitely set the bar high for RNC sport and I hope it inspires others with sight loss to believe in themselves, whether that’s in sport or anything else in life.’
Head Coach, Aaron Ford, echoed Megan’s sentiments, saying:
‘I’m incredibly proud of our team! Qualifying for the Clubs World Cup was a major achievement, but to compete so consistently against the world’s best and finish with a silver medal, only losing to a full-time Brazillian side in the final was special, and a testament to the hard work, resilience, and talent within this group of athletes and staff.
‘This success also highlights the high-performance environment being created through the RNC Sports Academy, where we support students to excel both in sport and academically. We’re equipping visually impaired athletes with the tools to perform at the highest level while gaining skills and experiences that will stay with them for life. The team should be proud, not just of the result at the World Cup, but of the role models they are becoming to others living with visual impairment.
‘Our thanks go to Performance Fluids Ltd and Yorkshire Plumbing Ltd for their sponsorship, and to the RNIB for their invaluable support, which enabled the team to compete in this prestigious competition in Finland.’
