Paralympians Krysten Coombs and David Clarke inspire Bristol city academy

We at B5 are proud to have worked with Bristol City FC Academy to deliver two Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) workshops at the Robins High Performance Centre, supporting the Club’s wider Academy and life skills programme.

Arranged and delivered through B5 Consultancy, the sessions brought together Paralympic athletes David Clarke OBE and Krysten Coombs, alongside our founder Matt Himsworth, to inspire players across multiple age groups through lived experience and practical learning.

Players from the Under-13s to Under-16s took part in a workshop led by David Clarke OBE, former Paralympic blind footballer and now CEO of Paralympics GB. David shared highlights from his career, including representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympics, earning 144 England caps and scoring 128 goals.

A key focus of the session was communication and its importance in football and everyday life. Players then moved to the pitch, where blindfolded drills challenged them to rely on awareness, trust and clear communication.

The second workshop welcomed Under-11s and Under-12s, led by Krysten Coombs, World Champion Para Badminton player and Rio 2016 Paralympic silver and bronze medallist. Krysten’s session focused on embracing difference, individuality and resilience, supported by videos from his career and an interactive Q&A. The workshop concluded on the pitch, with Krysten joining players for a penalty shootout, passing drills and small-sided games.

These sessions reflect our commitment to delivering meaningful EDI learning through lived experience, helping young athletes develop both on and off the pitch. It was a fantastic, engaging and energising day for all involved. We look forward to continuing this work with more clubs in 2026!

Read the full Bristol City Article here.