Goalball UK, the Paralympic sport specifically designed for the blind and visually impaired, has appointed Mark Winder as its new chief executive.

Winder – the former CEO of the Bradford Bulls Foundation – takes over from Mike Reilly, who has overseen the sport’s “most successful period ever”.

According to the governing body, participation in the sport has grown 425 per cent since London 2012.

While Goalball UK received its largest-ever grant from Sport England (£1.5m, US$1.9m, €1.7m), the body missed out on elite UK Sport funding.

Winder said Goalball UK was “one of the most exciting and dynamic national governing bodies around.”

He added: “While we face some challenges in the next few years, especially when it comes to ensuring that our ParalympicGB athletes have what they need to aim for the podium at Tokyo 2020, I have every confidence in our development officers, coaches and volunteers to build on the momentum they have generated.

“I have already seen the profound and positive difference that goalball has on all those who play it, and I look forward to helping transform more lives through this incredible sport.”

The outgoing Reilly said it was a “tremendous privilege” to be the organisation’s chief executive.

“The progress we have made in the last five years has been nothing short of remarkable, both at grassroots and an elite level,” he added.