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Camden Sports - by STEVE BARNETT
Published: 4 June 2009

Globetrotting Graham back from Oz with gold glory

PROUD Graham Leclerc returned home with a glistening gold medal after leading England to glory at the Arafura Games.
The star striker, who lives in Hilldrop Road in Islington, couldn’t hide his delight after representing his country at the Cerebral Palsy Football Championships, which were held in Darwin, Australia.
Held every two years, the multi-sport Games takes their name from the Arafura Sea, which lies between Australia and south-east Asia.
Graham, who works as a duty manager at the Talacre Community Sports Centre in Kentish Town, suffers from hemiplegia, and is partially paralysed down the right side of his body.
He never thought he would have a chance to play for England, but just days after his 34th birthday, Graham spearheaded the England attack in a series of matches against the likes of hosts Australia, Japan and Korea.
The father of three scored four goals as England remained unbeaten on their way to claiming the title, and didn’t concede a single goal throughout the tournament.
Graham said afterwards: “I’m very proud to have returned home with a gold medal, it was an amazing experience. To win in Australia, which is something that not a lot of English sports teams manage to do, was a massive achievement.”

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