MARK SAVES DAY FOR SHIELDSMEN

HEROIC goalie Mark Edwards saved the day for his team - only minutes after after being released from hospital.

Mark's team mates thought he was crocked when he injured his knee playing for South Shields Visually Impaired Football team.

They were competing in a top tournament at Temple Park against teams from throughout the country.

Mark, 23 - who also represents Great Britain at visually impaired football - was rushed to hospital. But less than an hour after the injury, he was discharged and back in action.

His bravery was quickly rewarded as he saved three sudden death penalties and his hat-trick of super stops in the semi-final of the seven-a-side competition took his team through to the final. where they faced Manchester's Inter Cosmos.

Team coach and fellow player Lee Cawkwell, 26. praised Mark saying: "His efforts were fantastic.

We all knew he was an excellent goalkeeper but to save three out of five penalties is exceptional."

Mark - who was blinded in one eye in after a schoolground accident 10 years ago - saved two penalites, then he ran to the other end of the pitch to take one of his side's spot kicks himself.

He missed - so he had to make his third save to see South Shields through.

The tournament involved 10 teams from as far apart as London, Manchester and the Midlands, and South Shields did superbly to finish runners-up only losing 1-0 in an extra time final.

The competition was the second to take place on consecutive days last
weekend.

The other was the final round of this season's league matches, which ensured
Division One survival for the Shieldsmen.

They did so well during those games that they finished fourth in the table.

Lee added: "I am very proud of the way the lads played. Inter Cosmos were made up mainly of Great Britain players and we matched them all the way."

Mark is one of two South Shields VIFC players to make the Great Britain
team.

Utility player Simon Russell, 25, also took part in the tournament against hosts Italy Greece, Germany and France.

Partially sighted people who are interested in playing football should contact Lee on 4251140.