John Barnes surprises youngsters with visit

Ex-England and Liverpool footballer John Barnes paid a visit to grassroots football club Longfleet Vision Warriors to witness their work in transforming access to football for blind and partially-sighted children in Dorset.

The visit came after Longfleet Vision Warriors won the prestigious Bobby Moore Award at the FA’s National Grassroots Football Awards at Wembley in August, where Barnes performed his iconic World In Motion rap on stage with the club’s young founder, Leo. 

Eager to provide another heartwarming moment for the whole club, we invited John Barnes to surprise the players at their Saturday training session where Barnes joined in with training and took to the stage once again to perform with the children.

For many of the children, Longfleet Vision Warriors provides far more than just football. Most of the young players do not have access to the sport in any other setting, and for some, it is the only environment where they can meet and play alongside peers with similar visual impairments, helping them build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging that extends beyond the pitch.

Speaking at the training session, Barnes praised the work that Longfleet Visions Warriors are doing “by really encompassing what the community is all about. Football is probably the most popular sport in the world, and clubs like this are very important as they offer opportunities. It's great to see.”

Sam Mosley, team secretary at Longfleet FC, commented: “For many of the children, this is not just their only opportunity to play football, it’s their only chance to socially interact with peers who share their experiences. The impact goes beyond sport – it boosts confidence, creates friendships and builds a network of support for families navigating live with visual impairments.”

Formed in 2024 based on a taster session between Dorset FA and the Dorset Vision Support Service, Longfleet continued the monthly sessions for 4–18-year-olds, recognising the strong demand for ongoing football opportunities for those with visual impairments. 

Since launching, the club has 15 registered players and 13 dedicated volunteers, each helping to create a safe, inclusive and joyful environment.

With over one million people supporting grassroots football each year, the FA is dedicated to recognising and rewarding volunteers. As well as England legend visits, volunteers can access monthly rewards including free England match tickets, Nike kit and money can’t buy experiences through our England Football Family brand.