Paralympian Zoe Newson will visit Heybridge Swifts (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Paralympian Zoe Newson will visit Heybridge Swifts

3:14pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in Sport

A PARALYMPIC Games medallist is paying a trip to Heybridge Swifts .

Powerlifter Zoe Newson – the brother of Swifts striker Ben – won a bronze in the women’s –40kg event in London.

She equalled her personal best in the process, managing an impressive final lift of 88kg to the delight of a partisan crowd at the Excel Centre.

Now she is set to make a special appearance at Swifts’ FA Trophy preliminary-round tie against Worthing on Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Zoe at Scraley Road,” said Swifts boss Mark Hawkes. “She did fantastically well and, although her training has prevented her watching any games here this season, she’s a big football fan and likes following Ben and her other brother, Sam, who plays for Needham Market.”

Zoe will lead the teams out and fans will have an opportunity to have their picture taken with her, at a cost of £5.

All proceeds will be directed back into her training costs.

Swifts head into the match in great form, following Saturday’s 4-1 thrashing of AFC Sudbury, in the FA Cup, and Tuesday's 8-0 Ryman League division one north destruction of Redbridge.

They now face a second qualifying round tie at Hayes and Yeading, of the Blue Square Bet South.

“Hawkes said: “We would have liked a home tie next against a side below us in the pyramid, so I wouldn’t say the draw has been kind to us.

“But we’re still confident about playing Hayes.”