Albion disability footballers star in kit launch
Four footballers with a disability starred side-by-side with Albion men’s and women’s first team players.
Players from each of our national disability football teams have featured alongside Albion’s Premier League and WSL stars (and world-famous DJ Fatboy Slim) to celebrate the launch of the 2022/23 home kit.
Four players – Darren Geal, Efe Shimwell, Nicky Baker, and Louis Parfitt – were part of the campaign to promote the highly-anticipated kit launch.
Their picture was shared to the hundreds of thousands of fans on Albion’s social media and club website, and has even been showcased on the front of the Amex Stadium.
Albion fans will be familiar with stars like Lewis Dunk, Tariq Lamptey, and Danielle Carter who also featured in the kit launch publicity campaign. However, you might not be as familiar with the stories of our disability football stars.
Darren Geal – Brighton & Hove Albion Amputee FC
Darren first joined us in 2016, coming along to our first ever session for amputee footballers. He quickly embraced the opportunity to join the team, but work and family commitments meant he had to step away from the team.
He made a triumphant return to the Albion in 2021, once again becoming a mainstay in the team and a huge asset to the squad.
Darren is a leader both on and off the pitch, making more than 15 appearances in the 2021/22 season.
Efe Shimwell – Brighton & Hove Albion Blind FC
Efe is one of the rising stars of blind football.
He is Albion through and through, first joining our blind football talent pathway in 2015 at the age of 10.
Over the past two years his development has really taken off, impressing many in the game with his skill on the ball and his powerful displays as a striker. He has since made his England debut and scored his first international goals.
Efe is a mainstay in the fledgling Brighton & Hove Albion Blind FC, and he had the honour of captaining the side in the FA Disability Cup final at St George’s Park in June. He is topping the scoring charts in the league this season, having bagged 9 goals in 6 appearances so far.
Nicky Baker – Brighton & Hove Albion Powerchair FC
Nicky is an experienced Powerchair footballer and a level head on the pitch.
She joined us back in 2019, signing for the Albion after a long stint with Evergreen PFC. Nicky is known as a great organiser, both on and off the pitch, and she brings a lot of composure to the team.
Nicky combines playing football with working for Level Playing Field as an Access and Development Officer.
She made 12 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion Powerchair FC in our successful 2021/22 campaign, as the Seagulls secured promotion to the WFA Premiership and won the ‘Team of the Year’ award.
Louis Parfitt – Brighton & Hove Albion Cerebral Palsy FC
Louis swapped royal blue for blue and white stripes in 2019, joining Albion from Chelsea CP.
He has firmly established himself as a first-team regular in the team, and his influence only continues to grow as time goes on.
During the 2021/22 league campaign Louis made 10 appearances and chipped in with a couple of goals and assists along the way.
He remains an ambitious player and is looking to break into the the international scene, having recently attended trials for the England Cerebral Palsy side.
Find out more about our national league disability football teams: https://bhafcfoundation.org.uk/football-participation/disability-football/national-teams/