Former Liverpool player Sean Highdale is saying goodbye to the Rio Paralympics this week. The experience seems like a football rebirth for the midfielder, who left professional football a few years ago.
Highdale was a victim of a car accident in 2008, shortly after he was promoted to Liverpool’s first squad. Two of his friends died in the crash, and besides brain damage, the player had to have kidney removed, and snapped three ligaments of his right knee.
“I’m very happy to be representing Great Britain at the Paralympics. I’ve always dreamed to defend the national team of my country, but unfortunately fate complicated things a bit.
“I went through difficult years after the accident, but it’s something I overcome. I only got to know the Paralmypic football eight months ago. I’m really enjoying the experience and I hope to continue here.”
The 25-year-old also played for Newtown A.F.C, Oldham Athletic, Vauxhall Motors, Burscough and Widnes Vikings, but was never able to show he could play at high level again.
As Britain are already out of the fight for the title, Highdale says: “It was not what we wanted, but we want to do our best to say goodbye Rio with a win”.
Britain lost the first game to Brazil 2-1, and then lost to Ukraine 2-1, before thrashing Ireland 5-1. They’re now playing Argentina to fight for the fifth place on Wednesday.
