An Inspiring Day with David Clarke OBE at Brentford Academy

We recently had the privilege of facilitating an afternoon of fun with David Clarke OBE, who delivered an interactive session with the U11/12s at Brentford Academy — and what an afternoon it was.

The session kicked off in the classroom, where David introduced himself and spoke about his extraordinary career. Over 17 years, he represented England at European and World Championships and Team GB at the 2012 Paralympics, becoming a true legend of the game.

David was born with congenital glaucoma, a condition that caused him to lose his sight as a baby. Throughout his life, he was told that football wouldn’t be possible for him. But he proved the doubters wrong, going on to score 128 goals for England and becoming the country’s all-time leading goal scorer.

The boys’ reactions were priceless. When asked to guess who England’s top scorer was, they shouted names like Harry Kane and Alan Shearer. The shock and delight when they discovered the answer was David himself filled the room with applause — a moment that will stick with all of us. I (Celia) felt the emotion deeply in that instant.

The classroom came alive again when we played a highlight reel of David’s goals. The cheers, the amazement, the respect — it was another moving reminder of the power of his story.

Then came the really fun part: taking the boys outside to experience football in David’s world. Blindfolded, they took part in drills designed to challenge their awareness and adaptability. David shared practical tips on finding success when one of your senses is taken away, and it was inspiring to watch the players rise to the challenge.

We wrapped up with a blindfolded penalty shootout. It was controlled chaos, but the excitement, laughter, and energy were infectious — the boys loved every second of it. 

It was a truly fabulous day, and we feel so fortunate to work with incredible people like David, and with forward-thinking clubs like Brentford, who are committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of footballers. We were thrilled to hear how much both staff and players valued the session.

Here’s to more incredible days like this!