A girls’ football team from Derby won every match in a national competition against nine other schools – scoring an impressive 24 goals and conceding only two.
Teams from the Royal School for the Deaf Derby competed in the National Deaf Children’s Football tournament alongside children from other schools for students with hearing impediments.
The event was sponsored by the English Schools’ Football Association and the Ashbourne Road school won the senior girls’ category, with the senior boys placing fourth overall.
Picture shows: Students from Royal School for the Deaf Derby with their trophy from the National Deaf Children’s Football tournament.
The competition, which was held in Derby Soccer Dome, in Pride Park, has been running for more than 30 years with the number of children taking part growing every year.
Organiser and Royal School for the Deaf PE teacher Louise White said: “After a two-year break in the competitions due to Covid-19 restrictions all the teams were delighted to meet up with the friends that they haven’t seen for some time and eager to get the contest underway.
“Throughout the event, teams played short five-minute games in a round-robin format. The winners and runners up of the groups moved on to a semi-final, with the winners heading to the final for a chance to lift the trophy.
“Heathlands School lifted the Junior Trophy with Mary Hare School securing the Senior title and our own team took home the Girls’ Trophy – scoring 24 goals and conceding just 2 on the day.”
Picture shows: Hard of hearing students playing football at the National Deaf Children’s Football tournament.
The trophies were presented by Chris Gordan, a member of the England Powerchair Football Squad and Neil Hope MBE, the RAF rep on the FA Council.
Both are members of the FA Disability committee and were invited by ESFA Council Member, Mike Spinks to attend.
Schools taking part in the event included Oak Lodge School, in Wandsworth; Knightsfield School for the Deaf in Welwyn Garden City; Heathlands School, in St Albans and Mary Hare School, in Newbury.
Louise added: “It’s such a wonderful opportunity for deaf children to mix with each other and on the football field being deaf is not a hindrance – they don’t need an interpreter and most of the players are visually astute so they are quickly aware when a flag goes up.
Picture shows: Royal School for the Deaf Derby boys team with their trophy for the National Dead Children’s Football tournament.
“This is a real event on the deaf community’s calendar, and we get lots of parents and former students who are keen to support the event and attend. What is particularly nice, is that not every school has enough players to make up a team and so sometimes schools will collaborate to ensure that everyone gets a game.
“Many of the children only meet up once a year at this event, but they are always really pleased to see each other.”
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