Blind footballer plays for gold

4:40pm Sunday 7th September 2008

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TODAY Harpenden Paralympian David Clarke will kick off his Olympic campaign.

Thirty-seven-year-old David, known as ‘the blind Fernando Torres’, of Southdown, Harpenden, will gain his 100th international cap when he steps outside out on the picth today.

The Great Britian blind football team will face China in their opening game this afternoon.

The striker has scored 95 international goals and is hoping to come back from Beijing with a gold medal.

David spoke to the Review from the GB camp in Macau where the five-a-side squad is preparing. “So far everything’s going well. It’s been hard coping with the heat but the team is adjusting well to a totally different environment,” said David.

“We’re surrounded by the best performance coaches and excellent facilities.

“We’ve had no time for sight-seeing. The team is totally focused on what we need to do, we’ve been running, sprinting and doing shooting practice in some intense training sessions.”

The city-banker said he was looking forward to getting his 100th cap in front of thousands.

“I’ve only ever played in front of a couple of hundred people. To get my 100th cap in front of thousands is going to be special,” he said.

David a life-long Liverpool fan had the chance to meet up with his hero - Spain striker Fernando Torres - before jetting out to the games.

He said: “To be given the chance to meet Fernando was an absolute thrill.

“He mentioned how he’d actually played in a blind football exhibition game against some of the Spanish team a few years ago, so knew how we play the game.

“And although he wished us luck, Fernando did say he hoped that it would continue to be a successful sporting year for Spain. I might be a Liverpool fan and in awe of his skills on the pitch, but I won’t be gifting him that wish in a hurry.”

The GB team is set to move into the Olympic village on Wednesday ahead of their opening game against China on Sunday.

David said: “I’m loving it out here. It’s been great meeting athletes from different sports. The boys are buzzing and can’t wait to get stuck into the games.”

His wife and two sons will be out in Beijing supporting him in his quest for medal glory.