Football Superstar Ollie Selected for Team GB at Paralympics in Rio

A The Sixth Form College sports star has been awarded the honour of selection to play for Team GB at this year’s Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Footballer, Ollie Nugent, has just finished his A Levels at the college and joins a squad of 14 on the plane to South America in September to compete in the five-a-side version of the game.

Ollie, who has cerebral palsy, is currently on the books at Chester FC but, this summer, is aiming to become the first person with his condition to earn a professional contract.

A superstar of this year’s Sixth Form College Boys’ First XI, the former Pensby High School student played a key part in the team winning the Wirral Cup Final for the third year running at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park, coming on as a second half substitute and helping to turn a 0-2 score-line into a 3-2 victory against Neston in May.

The final Paralympic squad was announced after Ollie joined the group in Brazil for a warm-up camp earlier in June, which has just added to the anticipation for the 18-year-old.

Ollie said: “I’m so excited. It’ll be a great experience, as it has been already to this point – going to Brazil to train and playing our first game in front of 16,000 people.”

Having played at international level before at the Cerebral Palsy Football World Championships and the European Championships, Ollie explained: “I’ve represented England before but this is all of Great Britain and on a whole new scale, plus it’s televised as well, of course. It’s probably my biggest achievement top date.”

Rules of Paralympics football mean that players are categorised by degree of impairment and Ollie is one of three GB squad members in his allocation. Only one can be on the pitch at any given time, meaning that Ollie has, in essence, beaten fierce competition for one place of three, rather than 14.

He said: “There was a huge amount of competition to get selected, but we’ve built up great team morale now. We’ve set in stone what we’re going to do with the coaches and worked hard in games and in training. It’s created a real sense of cohesion and togetherness. There’s not a player in the group that I’d swap with anyone else. They’re great lads and all fit and ready.”

Before Rio in September, Ollie has the other crucial matter of A Level results day. A Sport BTEC Level 3 Diploma and Psychology A Level student, Ollie is hoping for a successful day in August to help him on his path to his next long-term goal.

He said: “I’m going back on trial with a few different clubs over the summer, but I’m looking into a scholarship to take me over to America next year, so hopefully that will happen if things go well. It’s been a busy time for me over the last few weeks with footy so I’ve had to do a lot of revision at odd times, but I’m fairly confident about how the exams went so hopefully I’ll be happy come results day!

“The college has been brilliant. They’ve been very understanding of my situation and helped me catch-up with work and revision where I’ve missed lessons or other sessions.”

While others will look at his spectacular displays on the pitch and see talent, Ollie explained that, especially with the condition that he’s had since birth, there’s a lot more that goes into it behind the scenes than natural ability:

“It’s straight forward – it’s down to pure hard work. A lot of people – doctors, family, friends - have said that I won’t be able to do certain things by the time I was 16, or 18, but I’ve trained every day and worked hard for it, so it’s paying off for me.

“I also wouldn’t be in the position that I am without my parents. They pushed me and encouraged me with everything, whether it’s football, work or college. They’ve been a huge part of my story.”

The Sixth Form College First Team Coach and Sport & PE Teacher, Adam Thomas, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement and thoroughly deserved having seen the amount of time and effort he’s put into making the team, alongside the outstanding contribution that he made to studying and playing sport at the college. His determination is an example to all of us. I’m so pleased for him and it couldn’t happen to a nicer lad. It’s a proud moment for the college to be associated with such an outstanding athlete.”