EMPOWER blind athletes to shine on British soil

Who are we?

We are Fen Tigers Goalball Club based in Cambridgeshire. In 2022 we made history becoming the first British team to qualify for the European Goalball Champions League (goalball’s equivalent of football’s UEFA Champions League). 

We train hard and compete hard both domestically and internationally. For those not in the know, goalball is a Paralympic sport uniquely tailored for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. It’s not called sport’s best kept secret for nothing!

What is goalball? 

Goalball is a Paralympic sport specifically designed for blind & partially sighted people of all ages.  The sport was created after World War II to help the rehabilitation of injured soldiers & is now a much-loved Paralympic sport. It is played on an indoor court that is 18m long and 9m wide. The court has tactile markings (string that is taped to the floor), which helps players determine where they are.  It is played by two teams where players shoot & defend their goal by tracking a ball with a bell in it whilst under blindfold. 

What is the event? 

It is the European Goalball Champions League tournament and is the greatest and biggest annual competition for the top goalball clubs in Europe.  (goalball’s equivalent of football’s UEFA Champions League).  Click here to find out more EGCA Champions League Website

Having now competed in the league for 3 seasons, Fen Tigers want to bring the event to British soil for the first time in the league’s history.  We want to use this event to increase blind and visually impaired people's participation in this remarkable sport within the UK. 

The event would run from February 20th-23rd 2025 and in order to successfully bid to host this event, it is expected that we fund 75% of the costs to bring it to the UK.

Why are we crowdfunding?

To bring our vision to fruition, we need to bid to host and there are numerous criteria that we must meet - these come at a cost. As a disability sport, we are both under-represented and under-funded. As a disability sport club we have very little money and will be unable to bid to host the event without support. We are crowdfunding to try and make this event happen in the UK. We need to submit our hosting bid by the end of May with 100% of pledges to cover the costs.

How we’ll spend the money raised

We will use the money to hold a high quality goalball tournament. This will include spending money on an appropriate venue (£5k), arranging accommodation and food for athletes & officials (£11k), facilitating technical international livestreaming & commentary (£5k), organising transportation (£4k) and equipment, trophies & medals (£1k).

Who will be there? 

There will be approximately 100 athletes, referees & volunteers in attendance. 

There will be at least 8 top flight clubs from countries such as Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Finland, Belgium & Germany. This will include several goalball Paralympic medallists. The tournament really promises to be a showcase of extraordinary athletic prowess and inclusivity.

Can anyone watch?

Spectators are most definitely welcome and entry will be free! Follow us on  Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates (see links on this page)

The event will also be live streamed internationally with commentary from our sports’ top commentator plus guest appearances from British goalball Paralympians. Year on year viewership has doubled and we are expecting at least 10,000 views in 2025

Will the event be promoted?

There will be a full marketing campaign to increase awareness and attendance of spectators. This will include social, print and broadcast media. We will leverage our contacts throughout the goalball and disability sport network in the UK to ensure full awareness of the event. We aim to leave a legacy from the event that will see an increase in goalball participation from blind and partially sighted people.

Our Advocates

Community impact

We want to leave a legacy from this event that will see an increase in goalball participation in the UK. We know the value that goalball can bring to blind and partially sighted people and we want to spread the word!

People with a visual impairment are disadvantaged in their participation in physical activity as many sports do not allow them to join in. It is openly acknowledged by Sport England that visual impairment is a barrier to participation in sport. Blind and visually impaired people also often have mental health illnesses and well-being issues that they must manage on a long-term basis. This can lead to isolation & withdrawal of social situations. Goalball provides an inclusive experience that allows participation in sport & also clubs where social interaction is a major consideration. Research has in fact shown that VI people are more likely to enter higher education & get further in life if they play goalball.

Goalball gives visually impaired people access to sport, a new social network, confidence, a place to feel included, improved well-being, improved self-esteem, and a real sense of self-worth. 

We want more people to be aware of this sport and to get involved!

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a donation. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success! Any amount, no matter how small will be make a huge difference :-)

2. Make a pledge. Choose from our amazing rewards. 

3. Offer services such as transport and catering. Get involved if you are a local business by donating services. We will give you a shout out!

4. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

5. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details, just a fun idea!