Latest news with #NeilAtkinson
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Rare diagnosis left West Lothian man blind as a teen in 'isolating' experience
Neil Atkinson was only 17 when he was diagnosed with a rare degenerative eye condition, Stargardt's Disease. A man who turned blind after a rare diagnosis as a teenager has opened up on how isolating the experience was. Neil Atkinson was told he had Stargardt's Disease at only 17. The condition causes progressive vision loss, though this hasn't stopped him from living his life. The now 26-year-old who lives in Armadale, West Lothian is now set to compete in one of the UK's top disability football events after his team reached the final of the FA Disability Cup. He says joining Merseyside Blind and Visually Impaired football club has 'completely changed his life'. "Sight loss can be incredibly isolating, so my role focuses on helping people connect with others," he told Edinburgh Live. "I manage a team of volunteers who run regular social groups and activities, and I also deliver awareness sessions to local organisations so they can be more accessible. 'Playing in the British Partially Sighted Football League changed my life. It gave me the chance to keep playing football at a high level, even after my sight got worse. "It's a huge achievement for us as a group. I'd recommend it to anyone in a similar position. "To reach the showpiece fixture at the end of the season is a reward for the hard work we've done over the past 10 months. "We had to play a lot of games with a very small squad on the day, but the commitment was there. We deserve to be in the FA Cup final. "I believe that many of the players in our league would stand a chance at the professional game if it wasn't for their sight loss. "To have an alternative where we can reach the highest level in our own format is really important." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. He added: "It's exciting to be back involved with the England set-up. The trip to Turkey will be my first time travelling with the squad, so I'm looking forward to that. "But first, I'm focused on finishing the season strongly."
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Live
Blind West Lothian man opens up on 'isolation' after rare diagnosis at 17
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A West Lothian man who was diagnosed with a rare condition as a teenager has opened up on 'isolation'. Neil Atkinson, 26, was told he had Stargardt's Disease at only 17-years-old. The condition causes progressive vision loss, though this hasn't stopped him from living his life. Neil, who lives in Armadale, is now set to compete in one of the UK's top disability football events after his team reached the final of the FA Disability Cup. He says joining Merseyside Blind and Visually Impaired football club has 'completely changed his life'. "Sight loss can be incredibly isolating, so my role focuses on helping people connect with others," he explains. "I manage a team of volunteers who run regular social groups and activities, and I also deliver awareness sessions to local organisations so they can be more accessible. 'Playing in the British Partially Sighted Football League changed my life. It gave me the chance to keep playing football at a high level, even after my sight got worse." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "I'd recommend it to anyone in a similar position." Merseyside will face off against Birmingham in the partially sighted final at St George's Park on June 28. Neil added: "It's a huge achievement for us as a group. (Image: Royal National Institute of Blind People/Will Cheshire) "To reach the showpiece fixture at the end of the season is a reward for the hard work we've done over the past 10 months. We had to play a lot of games with a very small squad on the day, but the commitment was there. We deserve to be in the FA Cup final. "I believe that many of the players in our league would stand a chance at the professional game if it wasn't for their sight loss. To have an alternative where we can reach the highest level in our own format is really important." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Neil has also been invited into the England Partially Sighted squad, and will join them for a training camp in Turkey later this year. He added: "It's exciting to be back involved with the England set-up. "The trip to Turkey will be my first time travelling with the squad, so I'm looking forward to that. But first, I'm focused on finishing the season strongly."
Sky News
28-05-2025
- General
- Sky News
'The community has stood strong': How Liverpool is trying to heal from trauma at trophy parade
The memorabilia that marks a milestone title - No 20 - is still being snapped up two days on from the Premier League trophy parade. Water Street, where a vehicle struck crowds gathered to celebrate their team's success, was open again today - cleared the detritus of the horror, and the bottles of beer were abandoned in an instant. But Liverpool fans are asking whether a day filled with so much joy can be reclaimed for the euphoria, after scenes of such devastation. "The incident itself, it's obviously ended up very much marring the memory of what should have been a great day," said Neil Atkinson, host of The Anfield Wrap podcast. "There are a lot of different lived realities at once. Those right by the event obviously have theirs. "But as that sort of spreads out, everyone's in a bit of a different place. "So I think in the fullness of time - if everyone involved makes a full recovery, insofar as that's possible because there are other types of scar and not just physical - then I think that people can remember it as a positive occasion." Liverpool has dealt with trauma before at Hillsborough and beyond, when institutions have endangered and failed fans. This feels harder to comprehend - the shock - why the vehicle was driven through a crowd enjoying the most uplifting of days. Shortly before, the Strand nearby had been cloaked in a haze of red smoke that had followed the buses through the 10-mile parade, You'll Never Walk Alone booming out. The song is more than an anthem; it is woven into the club's identity, embodying the bond between fans and the club. Here, it was the soundtrack of celebration. In moments of tragedy, it has been the hymn of resilience amid healing. "The Liverpool community has stood firm," Mr Atkinson said. "Everyone just wants to help and support, and I think the human instinct, first and foremost, when bad things, scary things happen, is that there are people who want to reach out, and I think that is a good, it's a special thing. And the Reds are feeling the outpouring of solidarity, with rivals rallying behind them from far and wide. "I love Liverpool and I think that Liverpool has something about it that's genuinely exceptional," Atkinson said. "But I also love that … I was getting messages from people who aren't even connected to the game, who see this, who want to check that I was all right.
Sky News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Arsenal events take place to celebrate major trophy victories
A number of bus parades and events have taken place across England today as three teams celebrated their footballing successes. Liverpool 's celebration of their Premier League victory began at 2.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday, and was expected to last between three and five hours. A number of the city's landmarks were lit up in Liverpool FC imagery along the route of the bus parade, the club said. Having now won their 20th league title in the top flight of English football, Liverpool have equalled the record of rivals Manchester United. Fans lined the streets with plumes of red smoke greeting the players along the way. Neil Atkinson, content manager of fan site The Anfield Wrap, told Sky News there was something "democratic" about a parade. "I'm lucky to be able to go to Liverpool away games, but you only get 3,000 tickets," he said. "I'm lucky to be able to go to Anfield, but there's only 60,000 seats. A parade, all it needs is for someone to have their bit of concrete and we're all equal, and we can all enjoy Liverpool. "And what we're able to do to give a gift to the players of Liverpool to say thank you for what it is they've done." Midfielder Curtis Jones told LFCTV on the bus that it was his "second [title], but this one feels even more special". "I've played more of a bigger role in this, so it's good just to enjoy it here with all the staff and the players and of course the fans as well," he added. Speaking to players after his first season in charge, manager Arne Slot said the team had "refused to lose this season". "It's been an amazing season for us. The work you've put in has been absolutely outstanding," he added. One fan who had travelled from Gibraltar for the celebrations told Sky News he was "loving it". Another Liverpool supporter added that the atmosphere was "different" in the city on Monday. "I went to the gym this morning and there was people camping out already. It's surreal really," he said. 1:49 Fans 'so proud' of Arsenal women Arsenal 's women kicked off the celebrations on Monday morning after their UEFA Women's Champions League victory in Lisbon on Saturday. The trophy was lifted at Armoury Square, outside the Emirates Stadium, after the team's 1-0 victory over Barcelona. Former Arsenal footballer-turned-presenter Alex Scott and Emirates Stadium host Nigel Mitchell presented the celebration. It is the first time Arsenal have won the women's Champions League in 18 years, since their maiden title in the 2006-07 season. Sky's Rob Harris spoke to some of the supporters who had turned out to watch their team lift the trophy. "I can't believe they've just won. We've waited so long for this, I'm so proud of them," one said. "Women's football has come such a long way. And just to see the amount of support that it's started to get, it's like, this is the direction it needs to go in," another added. Palace saviour first major trophy Crystal Palace 's open-top bus parade started at 12.45pm to celebrate the team's FA Cup win, having beaten Manchester City 1-0 to secure the trophy. 1:27 The parade lasted around 45 minutes, before the trophy lift took place at Selhurst Park at 2.30pm. The club promised its supporters live entertainment, special guests and end-of-season awards. Attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze told Sky's Sarah-Jane Mee he was "enjoying" the attention after scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final. "To be able to actually achieve that, to score and to help my team win, and to be a part of a squad that has done it, keep the questions coming man, because I'm enjoying it," he said. The Eagles' FA Cup win saw the club awarded its first major trophy. "This is amazing, absolutely amazing. The crowd is buzzing, everyone is cheerful, it's a really good atmosphere," Palace fan Julie Setchfield told Sky News.
Irish Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Travel expert shares his 'most important hack' for never getting lost on holiday
Ever found yourself hopelessly lost while on holiday? It's a real dampener, particularly if you're on a tight schedule. Getting lost might lead to serendipitous discoveries, but not when you're against the clock or want to make the most your time abroad. This is where travel expert Neil Atkinson, the brains behind Luxury Group Stay, steps in with his useful hack to ensure you never lose your way - and it involves a bit of a throwback approach. Neil divulged: "Downloading an offline map of the area you're travelling to is one of the most important travel hacks I always recommend. It's completely free and can save you hours of stress, whether you're exploring the Lake District or wandering through Barcelona." With an offline map downloaded, data issues won't derail your adventure. Just remember to grab it while you've got web access. Neil advised: "I always tell people to do it before leaving home, or at least while still on hotel Wi-Fi.", reports the Mirror. Admittedly, there are some downsides, albeit trivial ones. Neil mentioned: "You'll only get driving directions when offline, not public transport routes, and you won't see real-time traffic updates." The good news is that offline maps don't your memory storage, leaving you plenty of space for even the vastest metropolises. Neil's parting wisdom focuses on preparation: "Make sure to download a wider area than you think you'll need. Better to have too much map than too little when you're in the middle of nowhere!". If you need a map when you're off the grid, just take these straightforward steps:
