7 minute read
Women’s Deaf Football Team Role Models
FOOTBALL ROLE MODELS HITTING THE BACK OF THE NET
DRM spoke to Deaf football players, Emma Brown and Zara Musker, about what it is like to be on the England Women’s Deaf Football team…
Zara started her football career in the hearing world. Now training to become an audiologist, Zara shares with us her football journey…
I never looked at my hearing loss as anything different to anyone else. I went to all the mainstream schools and mainstream college. I’ve played in the highest level of mainstream girls football. I never knew the Deaf team existed… to be honest, I never knew another Deaf person until I stepped foot into St George’s Park, it was a completely new world to me.
In terms of playing, I started with my friends and it quickly became bigger and bigger and before I knew it I was playing at the highest level of hearing women’s football. We were training three times a week and playing at the weekends. I didn’t want to join [the Deaf team] at the beginning because my hearing loss doesn’t define me and I thought why would I go into a team that segregates other people. It was a rough couple of years. But, I just loved football. I remember kicking a ball and thinking, this is me.
What’s it been like to be a part of the Great Britain Deaf Women’s Football Team and what are your dreams for the future with football?
I was at Blackburn Rovers, and I still remember the day that one of the coaches at Blackburn said, “why don’t you give the Deaf team a try?” The coach told me that I should take this opportunity, that there is so much out there for me. And at the end of the day this team has changed my life, my best mates are in this squad, I’ve made friends for life.
We went to Bulgaria in 2014 and we got bronze. It was the best two weeks of my life. I think it just changed my whole perspective on everything, society, the way that Deaf people get treated, hearing loss. The rest of my life is in the hearing world and away from here I don’t sign. But the team has changed my perspective on so many things and opened so many doors for me. I think there is so much scope out there— so many kids, that if given the opportunity to do this, they would give their right arm for it.
With Rose Ayling-Ellis winning Strictly Come Dancing last year, there has been a massive raising of awareness of Deaf lived experience, how do you think Deaf women’s football can continue to raise awareness in the wider community?
I think it is going to impact massively and we needed something like what happened to Rose. It was only a matter of time before someone like Rose would step up on social media and say it is okay to be Deaf or hard of hearing. Social media for Deaf women’s football is massive, and we are still trying to get the message out that there are teams within the FA that people can come and play for. You can represent your country— I’ve got 4 England caps at home! I just want to raise awareness and just give people the chances and confidence coming up. I didn’t have role models, but they are needed.
Above: Left, Emma Brown | Right, Zara Musker
Emma is a senior player on the leadership team. Here she tells us about her journey, her dreams and goals…
It started when I was 14 years old and the Manchester United Foundation came to my school, they were encouraging girls football. I heard about trials at Manchester United, so I went, and I was lucky I got chosen for this squad. The only issue I had was communication, it was a struggle, but at the club they had a disability coach. They were spreading awareness with the coaches about how to communicate with Deaf people.
Whilst at the club the disability coach told me there was an England Deaf Woman’s Squad. I never knew there was an England Deaf squad and there were trials coming up. It’s a dream to wear that three lion shirt. My mum drove me from Manchester all the way to Swindon. I had my trial and it was nerve wracking. I’ve been brought up in the hearing world, so speaking is my first language, and at the trial it was so different— everyone was signing to each other. The trial went well and I got a letter saying I had been accepted for the training camp. I couldn’t believe it!
I have been involved with the England team for 12 years now. I’ve played in multiple championships, including world championships, qualifiers, two Deaf Olympics… but to get this far I couldn’t have done it without my mum. My role model is my mum. She was a single parent and sacrificed so much for me.
Emma, as a senior player and part of the leadership team, how do you see your role in the team and the sport? What legacy do you hope to leave behind for the Great Britain Deaf Women’s Football Team?
I just want to be out there to spread the awareness. I live in Kent now and I play for a local club, and for my club I have been posting on instagram stories, saying I have gone through training camps and everyone got excited. There was this Deaf girl playing at my club who is under 13 and I thought, I have to meet this girl and be a role model.
What the FA have done is start a talent camp, and this is spreading the word. We have so many young players coming into the squad, which is brilliant. I often think, where are these players coming from. There is talent out there, we just need to spread the word, spread the awareness and push it on social media where someone will see it. Giving them an opportunity, to go from talent camp to the senior squad.
What are your football goals Emma?
It is about grabbing every opportunity that you can. It means so much to wear that Three Lions shirt. My goal is to get as many caps as I want and play as many tournaments as I can, because there comes a point where your body can’t take anymore, so just grab every opportunity.
My next goal is the Euro Football Championship this year, we are preparing for that. Then the World Cup next year… I’m not getting any younger now, so I’m just taking every chance I get to collect more caps and that one day we get a gold medal.
THE COACHES:
We asked the England Women’s Deaf team Head Coach Samantha Leigh and Assistant Coach Lauren Asquith a couple of questions…
Samantha, where would you like to see Women’s Deaf football go in the future?
I would like to see the deaf football exposure increased, so more are aware of what is available and for the support provided to continue to grow and develop. The support the FA are providing is fantastic and we will aim to reward that support in competition. Possibilities to move into the Paralympics and for the pathway to run alongside and with all sporting pathways would be the step in the right direction and can’t wait to see where deaf football is in the next few years.
Lauren, what is the most rewarding aspect of coaching these women?
Seeing the players develop is probably the most rewarding element of any coaching, that along with seeing players progress within the pathway and bring their own unique side to the squad. I’m very lucky to have worked across the FA Para Talent Pathway I’ve seen some of our players grow up and turn into amazing women on and off the field. Witnessing someone achieve their dream is also special. Every little girl who loves football aspires to be a Lioness.
Website: englandfootball.com Twitter: @EnglandFootball Instagram: @EnglandFootball
