Sixth Form Student to Take Part in World Cup Tournament This Summer

11 June 2015

First year student, Oliver Nugent, a former Pensby High School for Boys pupil, will be taking part in a World Cup Football tournament in June with the England Cerebral Palsy squad.

Ollie, who currently studies Sport and Psychology, at the Sixth Form College, has been playing for Tranmere Rovers Football Club since he was 8 years old and has been representing the England Cerebral Palsy Squad since 2011.

The tournament is being hosted by England and all 48 games within the tournament will take place at St Georges Park, Burton between 16-28 June. Ollie and his team mates will play against three teams within the first group stage of the tournament, with their first match against Japan taking place on 16^th June at 1pm. They will then take on Iran on the 18^th June (7pm) and Ukraine on the 20^th June (5pm).

If Ollie and his team successfully make it through the first group stage, not only will they have a chance of claiming the title of World Champions, they will also qualify for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Ollie, who has ambitions of becoming a full-time athlete and hopes to study at a University in the USA said, “I’m excited to be a part of such a prestigious tournament and honoured to make the final team. I’m looking forward to our first match against Japan – it would be a fantastic achievement to reach the Paralympic games!”

In a recent Channel 4 news report featuring the England CP Team, their coach Keith Webb commented on how excited he is to have Ollie in the team, “Ollie Nugent is very young but, in my opinion, he is the Lionel Messi of CP football - and that's not a statement I say that lightly. Any team in the world would love to have him in it." See the full article here.

Ollie also commented on how he feels fully supported at The College to achieve in his studies and his Football career, “The support in lessons from teachers and personal tutors means I am able to stay on track with my work load and training. The facilities at the College are also great – the gym has helped to keep me fit when I’m not training at Tranmere and the computer facilities in The Hub are great for completing work.”