South Wales team of 4 players standing together holding a Welsh flag, with the top half white, bottom half green, and a red dragon in the middle.
Each Thursday we want to put the spotlight on a person involved with goalball – from players, officials, coaches, or anyone

This week we caught up with Marcus Strait!

What club do you play for or coach?

I play for South Wales.

How did you discover goalball?

I was born in Cardiff, but I lived in the USA from when I was 7 to 15 and played goalball at the blind school I went to in South Carolina. We played against teams from other states, such as West Virginia and Florida, so it always involved lots of long journeys. When I moved back to Cardiff, I went along to a South Wales training session in November 2019 and have been playing for them ever since.

South Wales team photo in a dance studio, with 5 players stood together doing poses to the camera. Coach Steve Jones is stood behind them joining in.
Is there a particular song, artist, or genre that you listen to before a tournament to get in the mood? Or anything you’re loving at the moment?

There is nothing specific – just something uplifting. I like rock and rap music from across the decades. One of my favourite bands is the Deftones.

Do you have any pre-game superstitions or rituals?

I like to do a good warm-up with lots of stretching as this is especially important as you get older!

Marcus stood on a train station platform holding a costa coffee cup. Marcus is wearing glasses and a stripey blue top, with a thin grey jacket.
Do you have a favourite post-match meal?

Crisps and chocolate! I’ve been known to have a Pot Noodle as well!

Which goalball player do you admire the most and why?

Dave Scott as he is an all-around good guy. He’s a great player but also has lots of sports science knowledge.

Outside of goalball, what other hobbies/sports do you do?

I enjoy swimming. I also enjoy walking and exploring new places in The Valleys.

South Wales novice team group photo with 5 people stood together in bright red South Wales shirts with their bronze medals. A guide dog is laid down next to a player, pooped out after a busy day!

Finally, what place, anywhere in the world, is on your bucket list to visit and why?

I’d like to visit a major city in every continent. I’d also like to go to Scandinavia and Iceland to see the Northern Lights.

To check out the rest of the articles from our ‘Featured Thursday’ series please use the following link Goalball UK – Featured Thursday.