Sean Highdale

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37232402

Nice article on ex red who never quite made it due to bad luck.

I sort of remember the name, as one to watch out for, back in the day.
Shame it didn't happen for him, but good luck playing at Rio Paralympics.

 

well done that man.

Must've been horrendous depression there but I don't know he was really one that would have made it with us but he's gone and done a great thing getting to this olympics. Getting back up and doing something is a heroic thing.

 

Must admit I don't remember much about him, but the name deffo rang a bell when I saw the head line. If I was him I'd probably be waking up each day asking myself.. what if. Likely send me mad. Must have a good family to stop him from going nuts. Still decent pay out at least eases the financial side of things.
I'll be looking out for he seven aside results. We need to monitor their progress.

 

Nice to read a bit of the unseen contributions Carra and Gerrard made to counter the usual "they're all bad role models" media trope.

I'm bummed I got some freelance work which requires me to be in an office instead of at home watching the Paralympics. They're an inspiration and I'm not ashamed to admit I get a little teary at times.

 

It is not heroic it is called living.

as you may have gathered not really keen on the "heroic" crip / pitiful crip / benefit scrounger identikit i see and hear around me far too often

as an aside (and i know this is going to sound dreadful) it does make the adjustment easier if your disability is caused in a way which allows you to claim compensation particularly if you need specialist equipment / specific adaptations to your accomodation.

 

While it's easy to be cynical about these things, it would be easy to wallow in self-pity in those circumstances, which is also "living." It's a little more heroic than throwing a few chords over some schoolboy poetry for a living then getting your arse kissed by every rock media luvvie, which is something far more worthy of cynicism.

 

well..... It is that but theres so many that wallow.. so many fully able bodies that just lay about saying **** is too hard or i can't do anything

I know what you mean that people when the worst happens some get more support than others depending how it happens but for me to get up and carry on is a great thing. To get up and not only do that but go to para olympics is a really inspirational thing.

 

Always remember when we signed Wayne Harrison for a record fee for a 17 yr old, £250k in 1985, he was highly rated bay lots of clubs, never played for us after a horrendous knee injury in training.

His career with us was blighted by injury, but he always came back, except from the last one. He once fell through a greenhouse and nearly bled to death.

I think he died in his mid forties.

We always see the successful players earning the money, but I bet they represent about 1% of the kids the clubs sign up with most never making it either due to injury, not developing or their own attitude.

 

See i don't see it as inspiring though some are deffo impressive (still remember see amputee highjumpers for the first time at the Amsterdam ? games and just being wowwed) but admit my viewpoint isn't generally accepted on this matter