Students discovered what it was like to play football blind as part of training sessions in Accrington.

The Level 3 Apprentices at Nelson and Colne College Group, based in Accrington, discovered more about the laws and mechanics of the sport that featured 46 countries in the last Paralympics. After donning blindfolds they played out a hard-fought nil-nil draw.

Brandon Thompson, 19, said: "It made me think about how blind people do things and how difficult it might be even for my friends who wear glasses.

“During the game I was just concentrating on hearing the ball and kicking it but yes, we probably do take for granted that we can do so many things that people with sight problems can’t.”

Played with a ball containing a bell and players shouting a code word before they attempt a tackle; teams consist of four outfield players and a goalkeeper who is either partially sighted or who has no vision issues at all. 

The young people quickly realised that the keeper was the most important player on the team as they delivered instructions, and that listening was key.

Ellie Armstrong said: “The game is all about communication, a skill that can be applied to all careers.

“The training is part of enrichment activities which all of our students take part in. I leave them to decide what they want to do in the first week and most say, 'football.'

"But getting them to do everything from archery to creative writing and blind football, opens them up to new experiences and teaches new skills.”

IT tutor Zeeshan Anwar added: “When the students are creating websites it will now make them think about how visually impaired people use screen readers and how they should strive to make those sites compliant and accessible to all.” 

Nelson and Colne College gym and sports hall are open before college, during dinner hours and immediately after lessons - for free.

The blind football sessions were part of a raft of diversity activities staged throughout the Accrington campus. Films on the subject were shown and food from across the globe was handed out. Strong messages condemning homophobia and racism were featured on posters.