about a year ago

The team, which will line up against Brazil, Republic of Ireland and the USA, return to the competition at the Manchester Regional Arena on 23-26 May, for the first time since 2010.

This year’s squad features several of the squad that made up the Great Britain side when Football 7-a-side debuted at the BT Paralympic back in 2010, and head coach Lyndon Lynch believes his squad has the ideal mix of experience to take top spot in Manchester.

Lynch said: “Our squad is in tremendous shape and I know that everyone involved with the team is really looking forward to the BT Paralympic World Cup.

“We’ve got a great mixture of older and younger players, with a whole wealth of experience between them, so it’s just the right ingredients for a successful campaign up in Manchester.
 

“With the Paralympics just around the corner, the lads will be desperate to put in some top draw performances, performances they can take away with them into the Games."Lyndon Lynch

“It’s been a long time waiting for this summer to come around, but now it’s here, we’re all desperate to make the most of it. Chances like this don’t come around very often, so it’s important we all focus hard and put in the effort now we are at the business end of the campaign.”

Included in the squad is Matt Dimbylow, one of four survivors from Great Britain’s last outing at the BT Paralympic World Cup, alongside Michael Barker, Josh Beacham and Martin Sinclair, whose brother, Scott, plays for Premier League outfit Swansea City.

Fourty-one-year-old Dimbylow was part of the side that came seventh at the Beijing Paralympic Games back in 2008, with Jonathan Paterson and Michael Barker the only other survivors from that competition, to take in this week’s competition.

And the Stourport-born defender is adamant his team can set the ball rolling for a summer of great sport, starting with a win over the Samba Boys et al in Manchester, followed by success at the London 2012 Games.

Dimbylow said: “The lads are in great spirits and can’t wait to get out onto the field at the BT Paralympic World Cup.

“It’s such a great venue, literally in the shadows of Manchester City’s ground, and I know everyone will be very up for it.

“We’ve got such a strong squad, with some world-class players at our disposal, so I’ll be disappointed if we don’t go out there and show everyone, including our opposition, what we can do."Matt Dimbylow

“On our day we can beat anyone in the world and that’s the attitude we need to take against some very tough opposition at the BT Paralympic World Cup.

“If we can win this, we can really push on and take it to London. Excitement has been building for some time within the squad, but we’re all very conscious not to get carried away. There’s a lot of work to be done and we’re determined to make the most of this great honour and fantastic summer of sport, by putting our all in, first in Manchester and then later in London.”

GB squad:

Craig Connell (GK)
Billy Thompson (GK)
George Fletcher (Defender/Midfield)
Matt Dimbylow (Defender/Midfield)
Blair Glynn (Defender)
Josh Beacham (Defender/Midfield)
Martin Sinclair (Midfielder/Defender)
Jonathan Paterson (Midfield/Defender)
James Richmond (Midfield/Defender)
Alistair-Patrick Heselton (Forward/Midfield)
Ibrahima Diallo (Forward)
Michael Barker (Forward)

Meanwhile, the sitting volleyball international match has been withdrawn from the competition due to a lack of suitable scrimmaging partners. Those with tickets will be contacted and offered a full refund or if preferred, alternative tickets.

Volleyball England’s Sitting Volleyball Development Manager, Daniel Griffin, said: “We are disappointed that we won't be part of this year's BT Paralympic World Cup. We understand that this is an important period in both individual athletes and team preparations for London 2012 and that this has made it difficult to source international competition. Instead of competing, the GB players will continue their own training and preparations for the Games and we look forward to the next opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd, which will be at London 2012.”

The BT Paralympic World Cup is the largest annual international multi-sport competition in elite disability sport. BT is entering its fourth year as title sponsor, upholding its strong commitment to disability sport in the UK that stretches back over twenty years.

Manchester has committed for the eighth consecutive year to hosting elite international athletes competing across Wheelchair Basketball, Athletics and Football 7-a-side. In addition, Boccia will once again be represented, with an international match staged during the competition.

The 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup will once again be broadcast by Channel 4. For more information about Channel 4’s Paralympic coverage, visit: www.channel4.com/paralympics.

The BT Paralympic World Cup is sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) and supported by ParalympicsGB, BT and Manchester City Council.

Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup are now on sale. For more information visit: www.btparalympicworldcup.com

The event schedule will see the Manchester Regional Arena host all events, starting with Athletics on 22 May, followed by Wheelchair Basketball and Football 7-a-side on 23-26 May. The Boccia match will be staged on 24 May.