Foundation

WBA Blind clinch Brian Aarons Cup

WBA Blind have been crowned Brian Aarons Cup champions, beating RNC Leicester in a tense final on Saturday.

Taking place in Hereford, Albion's blind team battled it out with Merseyside Blind and the Leicester outfit to ensure they added to their league win this season.

"It was really good to add to the league win with a cup win," said Paul Glover, Head of Disability at The Albion Foundation and WBA Blind Head Coach.

"They're a really inspirational team, as a unit we felt very strong - I thought we were the best side on the day and that showed with the results."

In the group stage, a 1-0 win over Liverpool was followed by a defeat to the same scoreline against Leicester, but the Baggies got revenge in the final with a 1-0 victory over the East Midlands side.

"I'm extremely proud, I love working with blind footballers," added Paul.

"They're such talented guys and such committed players and we've got some really good characters within the team that really support each other and would go through brick walls for each other."

After suffering a last-gasp defeat in the group stage of the competition last season, Paul believes this year's success has carried extra importance for the side.

"I think the players felt frustrated last year and there was a real determination from them this year to make sure it didn't happen again - they've just got that winning mentality.

It was a special day for WBA Blind's Mo Ahmed who also received the Most Improved Player of the Season award.

"That was a bit unexpected," said Mo.

"It's one of those things as a player, you're always trying to improve.

"It's great to get a reward at the end of all the training."

Aged 19, it looks set to be a long and successful career for the England international.

Having played every minute of the season in both the league and cup for the blind team, the youngster is an integral cog in the Albion machine.

"It was a hard, long day, playing three back-to-back games in the heat is very difficult but we've got this tight squad of players and we all just gelled really well at the start of the season.

"We have that great team spirit; we all get on really well and understand each other.

"It was great, for the fact of how we've played all season.

"I think we deserved it, going on all season and the way we've played and never giving up, it was a great end to the season."

Attention now turns to the final of the FA Disability Cup at St George's Park on Sunday, June 17 as the team attempts to make it a treble-winning season.