About Bury Aces

Vision – Purpose – Values – Ambition

Who We Are

Bury Aces was born from one person’s determination to bring Showdown to Greater Manchester.

For over 25 years, Kara Goldfinch had been intrigued by a fast‑paced sport described as “air hockey meets table tennis”, but opportunities to try Showdown in the UK simply didn’t exist. Even when the UK’s first team formed in 2020, it was hundreds of miles away.

Everything changed in 2024 when Kara spotted a Facebook post about evening sessions in Preston. After finally trying the sport she had waited a quarter of a century to experience, she fell in love with it instantly. The sessions were infrequent, but her passion wasn’t so she travelled weekly, supported by her dad, to play whenever she could.

Within a month she was competing at the British Blind Sport National Championships, meeting a community of players who were welcoming, supportive, and deeply committed to growing the sport.

That sense of belonging and the realisation that Greater Manchester still had no Showdown opportunities sparked an idea:

If there wasn’t a club in Greater Manchester, she would help build one.

Bury Aces was created to give visually impaired people the chance to experience the same joy, connection, and empowerment that Kara found. It exists because access matters. Community matters. And because more teams, more players, and more opportunities will strengthen Showdown across the UK.

Bury Aces is not just a club — it is the result of passion meeting purpose.

Our Mission

To provide inclusive, accessible, and high‑quality VI sport opportunities that empower blind and visually impaired people to thrive on and off the Showdown table.

We do this by:

  • Creating safe, welcoming environments for all ages and abilities
  • Offering clear pathways from beginner to competitive play
  • Developing coaches, referees, and volunteers
  • Building community, confidence, and independence
  • Leading best practice in VI sport accessibility and culture
  • Raising awareness of Showdown locally and nationally

Our Values

These values are shaped by the spirit in which Bury Aces was founded. They guide behaviour, decision‑making, coaching, and culture. They are written to be practical, not abstract.

1. Inclusion

We welcome every athlete, volunteer, and family member with respect, accessibility, and belonging. In practice: accessible communication, adaptive coaching, zero judgement, proactive support.

2. Growth

We prioritise learning, curiosity, and long‑term development over short‑term results. In practice: feedback culture, development plans, celebrating effort and progress.

3. Integrity

We act with honesty, fairness, and responsibility on and off the table. In practice: transparent decisions, ethical coaching, safeguarding at the core.

4. Community

We build strong relationships, support each other, and contribute to the wider national Showdown landscape. In practice: peer support, volunteering, shared ownership of the club’s future.

5. Courage

We encourage athletes to challenge themselves, try new things, and embrace setbacks as part of the journey. In practice: psychological safety, positive risk‑taking, resilience building.

6. Wellbeing

We value physical, emotional, and social wellbeing as essential to sustainable performance. In practice: load management, rest, mental health awareness, balanced expectations.

Our Vision for the Future

Bury Aces is growing and our ambitions are bold.

We aim to become the UK’s leading VI Showdown hub, recognised for:

  • High‑quality coaching and player development
  • Inclusive, psychologically safe environments
  • Strong pathways for beginners, youth and competitive players
  • Sector‑leading governance and accessibility
  • A thriving volunteer, coach and referee workforce
  • National influence in VI sport development

Our long‑term goals include:

  • A permanent VI sports hub in Greater Manchester
  • A youth development programme
  • A referee and coach training centre
  • Hosting regional and national competitions
  • A sustainable funding model
  • Partnerships that strengthen VI sport across the UK

We’re building something special and we’d love you to be part of it.

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