Meet the Powerchair Football team behind viral goal seen by millions

While the attention of many football fans has been on the World Cup in North America, the winning goal in a match much closer to home and involving a Powerchair Football team from Leeds has gone viral, being seen – so far – by nearly 40 million people worldwide.

The spectacular assist which recently helped Leeds Powerchair FC score their third goal against Teesside PFC, and which saw the West Yorkshire club crowned FA Disability Cup winners, has since gained global attention.

The goal – dubbed by one newspaper as “Maradona-like” – saw Leeds PFC player Dylan Kelsall producing a 360-degree turn and pass before attacker Dan Rigby, 22, nudged the ball off his powerchair to score.

“I’ve enjoyed reading the names. Some have said Maradona. My personal favourite was Andreas Iniesta. It’s great, why not?” smiles Kelsall.

The player, a member of England’s Powerchair Football senior team, says the clip has gone “absolutely crazy”.

“Twenty three million views on Facebook, 10 million on X and over 1.6 million on Instagram last time I checked,” he says, still stunned by the statistics.

The final at St George’s Park – finishing off a treble-winning season for Leeds PFC – was the only live televised match of their season, which is something the players definitely want to take advantage of now.

“In all seriousness, it raises the platform of the sport,” Kelsall says.

“It’s the only game of the season which is on live TV. That then comes with the perks of potentially being on social media.

“I’m quite relieved with how the clip’s gone viral, because people have seen it as a positive.

“There are a few clips that have gone viral before where it’s never seen as positive.

“Often it gets referred to as Rocket League, that’s usually the standard response.”

Powerchair Football is one of the UK’s fastest growing disability sports and is seen as inclusive even for those with severe physical disabilities.

Games are played over 40 minutes, with four players on each team using a larger-than-average sized ball and, unlike in able-bodied football, there are no offsides.

Instead, the game relies on a two-versus-one rule – where two players of the same team are not allowed within 9ft (3m) of an opposing player.

Kelsall says: “Powerchair Football is the only sport where those with severe disabilities can play, and once you’re on the court your disability becomes irrelevant.

“People see what you can do, rather than what you can’t do.”

Co-coach Russ Rigby, whose son Dan scored in the final, agrees.

“Dan has got spasticity down his left-hand side. We have people who have degenerative diseases who are getting weaker but can adapt once they start playing,” he explains.

“You even have people playing Powerchair Football by just moving their chin. It’s a truly inclusive sport.”

Rigby says that, in terms of exposure, the recent final was the most important game the sport has ever seen.

He says that while Powerchair Football matches are already streamed on YouTube, he wants to go further.

“It’s getting it into people’s front rooms. We want to be playing entertaining football, want to be getting on there and smashing goals in,” he says.

“When people see that, they will want to tune in.”

However, despite success this season, Rigby says it has taken a toll – both physically and financially – on the team.

Leeds PFC trains at a school in their home city, but booking courts to play on can prove difficult and the team sometimes has to play games as far as the Midlands.

“We’ve done a few games in Burton-on-Trent and travelled to a game in Birmingham which was a six-hour round-trip for an hour’s worth of football, just days before the FA Cup final,” Rigby says.

“When you’ve got things affecting fuel prices, it really hits.”

Meanwhile, the powerchairs used during the games cost money too, ranging from £9,000 to upwards of £13,000.

Kelsall says that without a charity funding the equipment, the sport would be “unattainable” for many.

“It’s not as simple as five-a-side where you just buy a pair of football boots. You’ve got to find £9,000 for a wheelchair,” he says.

Still riding high from their goal going viral across the world, Kelsall and fellow teammate Ethan Fisher, 22, already have their eyes set on the future.

They are looking ahead to representing England at the Powerchair Football World Cup later this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In the meantime, Leeds PFC team members admit they are yet to find a way to celebrate their recent success and the surprise global recognition they have received.

“I wanted to get on for a cup of tea and a biscuit [after the final],” Rigby says.

“I think we’ll plan something for a few weeks’ time, but now we’re just catching our breath.”

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