Steve Daley Hall unveiled at St George's Park

The Futsal Hall at St George's Park has been renamed after Partially Sighted Futsal legend Steve Daley.

Daley made 150 appearances for the Para Lions during a 25-year England career before managing them at the IBSA World Games last season, where they finished as runners-up.

The Steve Daley Hall will continue to be one of the leading facilities at England's National Football Centre, with several different national teams training there as well as the Futsal side.

Daley was present at the unveiling and spoke of his pride at being honoured.

"There’s many things you get as a player over careers, but to be recognised by the FA and to leave a legacy, that’s probably the biggest bit, to be remembered for what you’ve done for the game. It’s just the biggest honour that the FA could do for me as a player that played for England. I’m just so humbled and overwhelmed.

"My family were probably the big one, my wife, my children and my parents that obviously kept me and started me on my journey about who I was, my identity. The coaches that I played under, so Tony Larkin, Graham Keeley, Ian Bateman, I only had three England managers over a 25-year career. They taught me what it meant to be a man, a player and what it meant to wear the England shirt.

"And the the people that I work with now, the players that I’ve coached, the para staff that I work with, the people like Sue Campbell that believed in me to come to the FA and do the job that I do now. There’s just been so many people along the journey that helped me to get where I’ve ended up and they are the people you’ve got to remember because they are the ones that gave you the platform to allow you to grow and have your ideas."

Our head of para performance, Catherine Gilby said: "What a fantastic way for us to recognise the monumental achievements and impact of Steve Daley on partially sighted Futsal and also the bigger para football landscape.

"James' speech captured the very essence of what Steve means to this programme and the people within it, past, present and future. Thanks to Andy Savery and his team at St. George's Park for supporting us with this."

And our senior para technical performance manager James Watkins added: “This is a landmark moment for para football. For a major facility at St. George’s Park to be named after one of our players, coaches and leaders is absolutely tremendous and it says a lot about where the programme has got to and where it’s headed.

“Steve was and is a real leader, not just on the pitch, but off it as well. He canvassed for the partially sighted squad to be backed more in the early days of his career and was someone who kept the squad together. I’ve not seen many individuals with resilience and determination like Steve.

“Steve’s job now as national talent manager at the FA sees him used as a sounding board – and rightly so – for inclusive practice and knowledge of para football and para sport. He’s a real go-to in the organisation and within our team.

“It’s a pleasure that I now work with Steve, but also that I am able to call him a friend. This is the recognition that he deserves for his contribution throughout the years, not just for his number of England caps, but for what he’s done – and continues to do – off the pitch as well.”