Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube Tiktok Linkedin
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • Registration
  • Login
Menu
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • Registration
  • Login
  • WHAT’S ON
    • Across Liverpool
    • M&S Bank Arena
    • Exhibition Centre
    • St George’s Hall
  • THINGS TO DO
    • In Liverpool
    • Strawberry Field
    • Tres Liverpool
    • Relish Liverpool
  • OFFERS
  • STAY
    • ALL HOTELS
    • iStay Liverpool
    • Boudoir Hotel Liverpool
    • Malmaison Liverpool
  • JOBS
  • LATEST
    • News
    • Food & Drink
    • Events
    • People
    • Things To Do
    • Music
    • Business
    • Matt Jacobson
    • Sport
    • Interviews
    • Blogs
    • Reviews
    • Competitions
  • LISTEN
    • RADIO
    • PODCASTS
  • DIRECTORY
Menu
  • WHAT’S ON
    • Across Liverpool
    • M&S Bank Arena
    • Exhibition Centre
    • St George’s Hall
  • THINGS TO DO
    • In Liverpool
    • Strawberry Field
    • Tres Liverpool
    • Relish Liverpool
  • OFFERS
  • STAY
    • ALL HOTELS
    • iStay Liverpool
    • Boudoir Hotel Liverpool
    • Malmaison Liverpool
  • JOBS
  • LATEST
    • News
    • Food & Drink
    • Events
    • People
    • Things To Do
    • Music
    • Business
    • Matt Jacobson
    • Sport
    • Interviews
    • Blogs
    • Reviews
    • Competitions
  • LISTEN
    • RADIO
    • PODCASTS
  • DIRECTORY
Search
Close

Escape The Everyday – Escape to Liverpool

Everton star Ben Godfrey surprises award-winning young footballer Garmon

April 15, 2021
|
By Editor
  • HOME
  • News
  • Everton star Ben Godfrey surprises award-winning young footballer Garmon

Everton star Ben Godfrey has surprised an inspirational young Evertonian who, despite a visual impairment, has gone on to win a prestigious footballing award.   

Thirteen-year-old Garmon, from Denbigh, North Wales, and who has been attending matches at Goodison Park since the age of five, won the Best Grassroots Football Story of the Year Award from the Footballing Association of Wales for his superb performances for Henllan Juniors football team.

A visual impairment means Garmon plays with sight akin to night vision, but Garmon has spent years working on techniques that have allowed him to thrive in mainstream football.

Garmon’s parents signed him up for Kinmel Bay’s visual impairment team aged five, and his coach, Bill Darwin, was among those who helped Garmon hone his skills and adapt his game, focusing on skills including ball control. 

With the support from Kinmel Bay, Garmon was eventually allowed to join his friends at Henllan Juniors, a team started by his dad, Gerwyn, with his former coach Bill hailing Garmon as “one of the best players in North Wales in his age group”.

Ben Godfrey joined Garmon, his mum Iona and coach Bill on Zoom to congratulate Garmon on his prize – and all of his hard work.

A surprised and excited Garmon told Ben about his award and how he cannot wait to be back playing with his fellow teammates when lockdown restrictions end. 

Garmon asked Ben for some tips on tackling, after being impressed by the Everton player’s recent tackle on Liverpool’s Shaqiri in the Merseyside derby, with Ben revealing that it is all down to timing – and advising that the best place to practise tackling is on a soft pitch rather than the street!   

The pair also talked about Garmon’s playing position as a midfielder and his future footballing plans, with Garmon telling Ben that while he hasn’t yet decided, he is considering becoming a coach.

Garmon was previously a matchday mascot for the Club in 2017 when Everton played Burnley and when he walked out onto the pitch with Mason Holgate. 

Garmon and Ben also talked about pursuits off the field, with Garmon asking Ben about the boxing videos he had posted during lockdown, and the player revealing, “I enjoy boxing and used to box quite a lot when I was younger. I’ve always done it and it keeps me fit in the off-season.”

Ben shared his admiration for the determination that Garmon has shown to improve his game, saying, “Football’s hard enough for anyone trying to improve, but for you, Garmon, to be improving and flying as you are, and dealing with what you are, is unbelievable and I’m really happy you won the award. Just keep working hard and keep improving…that’s what we do in football, just be the best we can.”

Ben’s surprise call to Garmon took place during Level Playing Field’s Weeks of Action, which celebrate inclusivity in sport. Now in its 17th season, for 2021, the campaign is shining a light on what clubs, Disabled Supporters’ Associations, fans and other organisations have been doing to support disabled fans who have been shielded or isolated, and to ensure access and inclusion.

In December 2018, Everton launched All Together Now, its campaign to celebrate diversity and increase awareness of everything done by the Club and Everton in the Community to promote equality.

Since the launch, All Together Now branding and the tagline ‘a football family for everyone’ has been used across LED perimeter boards, the jumbotron screens and in concourses at Goodison Park on matchdays, while a number of initiatives and schemes to encourage inclusion and celebrate equality and diversity have been introduced or developed.

READ MORE: Tranmere fans set up GoFundMe to fund dream trip for Ghanaian superfan

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email
Print

THE LATEST

Rising stars of TikTok – Tom Rogan
June 25, 2022
Over the coming months we will be meeting some of the Liverpool City Region’s most…
Liverpool to land a major transfer coup potentially worth tens of millions of pounds
Liverpool to land a major transfer coup potentially worth tens of millions of pounds
June 24, 2022
Liverpool City Council is set to launch a trailblazing approach to how communities can regenerate…
Liverpool welcomes brand new music experience ‘Outside In Festival’ to the city
June 24, 2022
This summer Liverpool is set to welcome a brand-new music experience to the city, which…
Liverpool ONE to host an array of activities this summer
June 24, 2022
Liverpool ONE are hosting an array of activities this summer fit for the whole family.…
Green Sefton celebrates World Sand Dune Day with free guided dune walks
Green Sefton celebrates World Sand Dune Day with free guided dune walks
June 24, 2022
This Saturday 25 June is World Sand Dune Day, a day celebrated annually by coastal…
Unique giant bass guitar art installation erected by The Beatles Story and Höfner to celebrate Paul McCartney’s 80th year 
June 23, 2022
The Beatles Story, Liverpool’s award-winning attraction, have teamed up with instrument manufacturer Höfner to celebrate…
ODEN & Fatzo heads to Meraki
Liverpool 360º with ODEN & Fatzo heads to Meraki
June 23, 2022
Fever’s series of 360º exclusive clubbing experiences is making its debut in Liverpool on 15th…
Bacino brings modern Italian cuisine to Liverpool this summer
June 23, 2022
Bacino to open in Flannels this summer, introducing modern Italian cuisine to Liverpool. Bacino will…

WhatsAppenin LIVERPOOL

Receive WhatsApp notifications about the latest big news, events, offers, competitions and much more!

SIGN UP NOW

At Explore Liverpool we are all about bringing you everything the Liverpool City Region has to offer and more!

Useful Links

  • Liverpool Map
  • FAQs Liverpool
Menu
  • Liverpool Map
  • FAQs Liverpool

Stay In The Loop

Stay up to date with all the latest news, articles, events, and offers from across Liverpool!

© 2022 Explore Liverpool

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Menu
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
SettingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!