Brentford FC were delighted to welcome a potential wheelchair racing star to Griffin Park on Saturday, and give him a hand as he continues his career.
Hilmy Shawwal, 17, from the Weir Archer Academy, was on the Griffin Park pitch at half time on Saturday, January 10, when The Bees beat Rotherham United.
He was presented with a cheque for £500 from Brentford FC towards the cost of his new racing wheelchair.
Hilmy is an Ealing resident who has a long association with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and who recently has been selected to become a member of the highly respected Weir Archer Academy.
The Academy was set up after London 2012 by the multiple Paralympic Gold Medal winner David Weir and his coach Jenny Archer, to support up and coming wheelchair athletes across the South East of England and beyond.
Over the last six years Hilmy has competed in wheelchair racing for both his school and his borough across a range of local and sub-regional activities, events and competitions.
These have included the London wide Panathlon Challenge and London Youth Games Disability Athletics, where he regularly won the 100m and 200m races.
This new racing wheelchair will enable him to continue develop his training with the Weir Archer Academy and to build upon the third place he won in his age group at the England Disability Championships in August 2014.
Mark Devlin, Brentford FC Chief Executive, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Hilmy and his family.
“Hilmy is a local talent and an outstanding young athlete.
“I was approached by Pete Shears, from BFCCST, to see if the Club could contribute towards the cost of Hilmy's racing wheelchair; I was delighted that we could offer some financial assistance.
“We will look out for Hilmy's progress with great interest.”