HERO'S NEW GOAL

AT just 21, soldier Craig Lundberg's world was plunged into darkness.

A rocket fired by an Iraqi insurgent hit him in the chest. It gave off so much heat it even warped the metal in his assault rifle - and blinded him forever.

For many it would have been the end.

For Craig it marked a new beginning. He now teaches partially sighted and blind youngsters to play football, changing their lives as they discover they don't have to be excluded from the sport.

But modest, Craig, now 24, insists: "It's me that's grateful to the kids. They've taught me far more than I've passed on to them."

For the uninitiated, blind football is a five-a-side game played with a ball containing rattling beads. Only the goalie is sighted. The coaches shout instructions from the sidelines and from behind the goal. Players must also shout before they tackle.

Craig, from Liverpool, is such an inspiration that he was nominated for a Children's Champions trophy in the Sports category by SAS legend and bestselling author Andy McNab, a long-time fan of of our awards.

"I met Craig two years ago and he astonished me," said Andy. "Within three months of losing his sight he was volunteering to work with children because he couldn't bear having so much time on his hands."

It was while he was recovering at home that lifelong soccer fan Craig met the man who would help give new direction to his life - Dave Kelly of the charity DaisyUK, a group that promotes equal opportunities for disabled youngsters through sport.

For lifelong football fan Craig, coaching the great game to blind children was an ideal opportunity.

"He was an instant hit with the kids," said Dave. "He's this inspirational lad, like a big brother who they can all look up to." Taking up the story, Craig added: "I soon realised I had 21 years of vision to draw experience from, yet most of these kids have been blind or partially sighted since birth.

"Some have lost their sight through accident, and for some their blindness is a secondary symptom of another condition like cerebral palsy."

Soon Craig started playing competitively. He did so well he is now a member of the England visually impaired and blind football team, and spends three days a week at the blind football academy at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford. Next year the town hosts the Blind World Cup.

But between training sessions and coaching kids, he still finds time to travel the UK as an ambassador for the RNC, encouraging thousands of blind children to chase their dreams.

One confirmed fan is Jack Cullen, 13, who beamed: "Craig is amazing. I'd come every day if I could."

Jack's dad, 48-year-old John Cullen, was also delighted to nominate Craig for our Award. I enjoy coming to these sessions as much as my lad because it's rewarding to see what the kids get out of it," he said.

"Some of the lads wear glasses but their vision is still very poor. In some cases they can barely see at all.

"But you have to make the most of your sight, even if it hardly exists."

IF you know a Children's Champion visit www.childrenschamps.co.uk and nominate them now.

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