The Greater Manchester Falcons' Journey to Fitness, Confidence, and Community for the Visually Impaired"

Visually impaired sports improve fitness, coordination, and confidence.

They promote independence and teamwork through adapted activities, while fostering social connections and a supportive community.

What do they do?

The Greater Manchester Falcons offer a variety of sports for the visually impaired in Greater Manchester, based in Bolton, with members traveling from across the country to participate.

They currently compete in three sports: blind cricket, blind baseball, and goalball.

“I was living a normal life when I was unexpectedly diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a discovery that turned my world upside down. Initially, it was challenging to cope, but I found strength and resilience through visually impaired sports. Participating in these sports greatly improved my health and well-being. Meeting other visually impaired individuals, especially the professionals at Greater Manchester Falcons, inspired me to embrace my journey without fear.” - Amin Afzal 

 

The project has been highly successful, with many visually impaired people getting involved.

It has positively impacted their lives by improving physical and mental health, as well as enhancing overall well-being.

“I have been visually impaired all my life and have struggled since leaving university. For the past ten years, I’ve rarely gone out or had much of a social life. Discovering visually impaired sports has been life-changing. Although it was challenging at first, especially with the long travel distances, I’m thrilled it’s now available in Bolton. Being part of this community has transformed my life, boosting my health, mental well-being, self esteem self belief and self confidence. It’s also helped me learn valuable new skills, as I am now confident to go out alone and travel long distance  on my own using public transport.” -Amin Afzal 

Team achievements:

The Greater Manchester Falcons, have competed in several tournaments so far.

In blind baseball, they’ve participated in various events, and in cricket, they took first place in the BCEW Development League Festival, beating strong competition from across the country.

They also earned bronze in their first goalball tournament, narrowly missing gold on a goal difference—a great achievement considering most of their players are new to the game.

From Adversity to Achievement: Tokeer’s Inspiring Journey in Visually Impaired Sports

For nearly eight years, life without sports felt like a void for Tokeer, a Bolton-based athlete whose once-active lifestyle in cricket and football had come to an unexpected halt after losing his eyesight.

But everything changed when he discovered visually impaired sports, opening doors to new experiences, achievements, and a revived passion for competition.

Today, Tokeer proudly represents England in blind cricket and has achieved remarkable accomplishments both nationally and internationally.

Earning a spot on the England blind cricket team, Tokeer not only had the honour of playing at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground but also represented Great Britain in the European Championships in blind baseball.

In that competition, he travelled to Italy, where he and his team made their mark on the international stage, proudly returning home with a hard-earned bronze medal.

This recent season in the domestic national cricket league has been another milestone.

Teaming up with fellow player Bilal, Tokeer had the privilege of competing at the Northampton County Cricket Ground. Representing Northants Steelbacks VICC, their efforts culminated in a triumphant victory, securing their first national league trophy for the team.

Reflecting on his transformative journey, Tokeer speaks passionately about the profound impact visually impaired sports have had on his health and well-being.

Adjusting to life without sight was challenging, but finding a community of like-minded athletes provided the support, friendship, and motivation he needed.

In Bolton, he and a small group of dedicated players practiced blind cricket together long before the formal establishment of the Greater Manchester Falcons.

With determination and drive, this core group trained tirelessly, eventually leading Tokeer to be the only male player selected from Greater Manchester and Lancashire for the England national team trials

“Playing with the Greater Manchester Falcons has shown me what’s possible,”

Tokeer says.

“This club not only helped me find a renewed purpose but has also created opportunities for others to reach the highest levels in sport.”

Now set on future competitions and a commitment to breaking new barriers, Tokeer’s journey exemplifies the power of resilience and the life-changing potential of adaptive sports.

What is Goalball?

Goalball is a team sport for visually impaired athletes, where players use sound to track a ball with bells and score by rolling it into the opponent's goal.

It's a Paralympic sport.

The Greater Manchester Falcons plan to involve creating a walking group for the visually impaired, offering facilities for visually impaired children, and expanding sports activities based on members' needs.

“Since losing my sight at a young age, I’ve navigated a sighted world with great success across all areas of life—professionally, socially, and personally. I see blindness not as a limitation but as a unique ability that has fuelled my accomplishments.

 

At GBVIS, I aim to inspire and support the blind and visually impaired community, particularly those who lose their sight later in life, as they often face the greatest challenges in adapting. My message is simple: blindness is not a limitation, but a path to reaching heights that even sighted people might not achieve.” -Mohammed Valli

 

The Greater Manchester Falcons club is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of blind and visually impaired individuals across Greater Manchester.

With a welcoming and supportive “family” environment, the club makes sports accessible and provides the encouragement members need to thrive.

We welcome all visually impaired persons, regardless of age or gender, along with volunteers who wish to join us in this mission.