England Men's Deaf V Germany 24/03/2023

England V germany

men's deaf team international friendly

Friday 24/03/2023 7.45pm afc telford united

in partnership with shropshire fa

welcome to afc telford utd First aid The First Aid Room can be located under the Control Tower.

Please ask the nearest Stewards if you require any further assistance.

Lost Child Area Please report to under the Control Tower.

Disabled facilities There are numerous dedicated disabled toilet facilities around the ground.

Reporting an issue Reporting an issue If you hear someone behaving in an inappropriate manner, you are entitled to report them anonymously by texting 07572 236 037 which is a system that will be monitored from the control tower on a match day.

AFC Telford United's New Bucks Head Stadium is considered to be amongst the best Non-League grounds in the Country and holds a Football League 'A' Grading.

Construction of the new stadium commenced in 2000, replacing the Bucks Head ground which had been home to Wellington Town and Telford United for over a century. Although the Bucks Head held a special place in the hearts of many supporters, it was in desperate need of renovation. The stadium was finally completed in 2003 and can hold 5500 supporters.

from the staff Andy Smith - Head Coach Welcome to our visitors Germany and to everyone attending tonight’s game here at AFC Telford United. This will be a great test for our England Deaf Men’s Team tonight as we celebrate our first home international game since the squad came under the leadership of The FA. The players are really looking forward to playing against their old rivals and we hope to put on a good performance to showcase the hard work and preparation that has been undertaken. We have a mix of established senior international players and young players who have progressed from our well established talent system. This is the next step in our preparation for the World Championships in Malaysia in September and a positive gauge for how the team is progressing.

Jamie Clarke - Captain I’m very excited to welcome Germany. We have huge amounts of respect for each other as nations and recognise our playing histories- competing with the German team is never easy and they have always been a top team participating in all major tournaments. But it’s definitely a great test for our newly set up squad/management team so I’m looking forward to it! I feel it’s the perfect time for some of our players who haven’t played against an international team before to use this opportunity to show what they can do, to learn from it, to know what to expect from the experience and to try to enjoy it all. Preparation is absolutely vital for us and we want to come back home with gold from the World Championships later this year. We are all training hard and making sure we are all are staying focussed with our goals.

James Watkins - Senior Technical Performance Manger We are delighted to welcome the German National Deaf Football Team to England. Such games are critical to the way in which we prepare our players for major championships. The game signifies our first international friendly since the team transitioned to The FA is 2019. Most importantly, the game will be a challenge to both technical staff and players and will allow us to benchmark our players against one of Europe’s stronger playing nations. From here, we ramp up preparation for the Deaf World Championships in Malaysia in September with a programme of camps and games. A sincere thanks to the Directors of AFC Telford United for allowing the game to be hosted at this fantastic stadium. Our gratitude is also extended to the directors and staff of Shropshire FA in enabling this game to happen and for the work undertaken behind the scenes.

meet the staff Andy Smith Head Coach Sam Manoochehri Assistant Coach Ryan Lewis Assistant Coach Matt Dixon Interpreter Dan Evans Physical Performance Coach

Jon Harper Communication Coach

meet the players Jamie Clarke Captain Forward

Matt Oaten

Philip Swift

Rylan Casey

Midfielder

Midfielder

Drew Rowley Defender

Joe Dixon Defender

Matt McQueeney Midfielder

Will Palmer Winger

Gino King

Ellis McLean

Henry Bowe

Midfielder

Defender

Defender

Josh Feldman

Cole Neil

Midfielder

Defender

Harry Boorman Defender

Tommy Hobson GK

Sam Edwards

Abdou Jobe

GK

Striker

Defender

Cavell Donaldson Winger

meet the staff Michael Scheffel Team Manager

Dirk Zimmermann GK Coach Richard Konstantin Coach Jens Becker Team Leader

Sebastian Lohr Physiotherapist

meet the players Luca Ballmann

Robin Bayer

Marc Christ

Robby Fischer

Julian Hoffmeyer

Dennis Karczewski

Jan Medewitz

Eric Niekamp

Dennis Oberdorfer

Lorenz Opitz

Lucas Pflugfelder

Robin Plank

Nikolai Reifegerste

Leon Schroder

Marlon Seeburger

Dennis Jukovskiy

para talent hub 2022-23 What are PARA Football Talent Hubs?

Talent Hubs deliver engagement sessions for players with cerebral palsy, deaf players and partially sighted players. Sessions enable continued talent identification/confirmation opportunities and impact players aged 7-16.

Hubs are used as a ‘check point’ for these players and have robust processes to link players to appropriate mainstream clubs or impairment specific clubs.

Hubs are hosted by a range of organisations including CFAs, English Football League Trusts and Premier League Foundations and Trusts. These organisations are supported by the FA to develop comprehensive action plans focusing on recruitment strategies for Para players and sighted goalkeepers, training and development opportunities for staff, Futsal placements for players, educational and apprenticeship opportunities and effective marketing and communications activity.

PARA Football Talent HUB

LEAD officer

EMAIL

Watford FC CSE Trust

Karen Stephanou

karen.stephanou@watfordfc.com

Argyle Community Trust

Stewart Walbridge

stewart.walbridge@pafc.co.uk

AFC Bournemouth Community Sport Trust

Daryl Hobson

daryl.hobson@afcb.co.uk

Derby County Community Trust

Ben Asquith

ben.asquith@dcct.co.uk

Southampton Football Club

Nathan Cornick

ncornick@saintsfc.co.uk

Fulham FC Foundation

Katy Shephard

kshephard@fulhamfc.com

Manchester United Foundation

Matthew Pilkington

matthew.pilkington@mufoundation.org

Bristol Rovers Community Trust

Will Dixon

willdixon@bristolroverscommunity.org.uk

Norwich City Community Sports Foundation

Darren Hunter

darren.hunter@norwichcitycsf.org.uk

Albion in the Community

Philip Broom

Philip.Broom@albioninthecommunity.org.uk

Disability4Sport C.I.C

Abigail Saxon

abigail@disability4sport.co.uk

The Albion Foundation

Conor Brogan

conor.brogan@albionfoundation.co.uk

Durham County FA

Andrea Fyall

andrea.fyall@durhamfa.com;

Cambridge United Youth and Community Trust

Phil Mullen

phil.mullen@cambridge-united.co.uk;

Stoke City community Trust

Sam Cartwright

Sam.Cartwright@stokecityfc.com;

para talent hub 2022-23

para football talent pathway - talent days 2023 Liam Drake - Talent Inclusion Lead - liam.drake@theFA.com

match information 6.30 - Gates Open 6.45 - Players commence warm up 7.25 - Team return to changing rooms 7.33 - Teams and Officials assemble in tunnel 7.35 - Players enter pitch and line up on halfway line 7.38 - National Anthems 7.40 - Presentation of players by Jamie Clarke (C) to Colin Chaytors - Chair of FA Disability Committee & Dave Simpson - Chairman of Shropshire FA 7.43 - Coin Toss / Exchange of Pendants 7.45 - Kick Off Half Time - Penalty Shoot Out 8.45 - Second Half kicks off 9.30 - Final Whistle

Thank you to tonight's Team of Shropshire Referees Richard Butler Shaun Currall Mark Reilly Andrew Biggin Halftime Penalty Shootout Amelia Smith Ball Boys / Girls provided by Madeley Sports FC Mascots provided by Shropshire Deaf Childrens Society

nominate your grassroots hero

DISABILITY FOOTBALL IN SHROPSHIRE MADELEY SPORTS TELFORD COLLEGE 6 – 8PM MONDAY (YOUTH) SHREWSBURY TOWN FOUNDATION MONTGOMERY WATERS MEADOW 5 – 7PM WEDNESDAY - (YOUTH) 7 – 8PM (ADULT) AFC TELFORD UNITED TELFORD LANGLEY 3 – 4PM SUNDAY (ADULT) AUTONOMY (REFERRAL – AUTISM – ADULT) THE NEW SAINTS PARK HALL 4:15 – 6:15PM THURSDAY – YOUTH

COMING SOON MENTAL HEALTH – GOALZONE – 2 – 4PM WEDNESDAY – ADULT (STARTING MAY 24TH) EMAIL ISAAC FOR MORE DETAILS: ISAAC.POLLARD@SHROPSHIREFA.COM

Ability counts Shropshire

Captain jamie clarke The striker, who is also a part-time model, will lead his team out at two major championships in the space of two months.

In September the Para lions fly to Malaysia compete in the first World Deaf Football Championship for nine years, having been to Turkey for EuroDeaf in June. The Pershore Town forward has an arsenal of individual accolades, including England’s youngest player at a World Championships in 2008, but now it's a collective title he is gunning for.

“We hope to win the World Championships," said Clarke. "I’ll have played for England for the past 15 years and obviously my biggest achievement is a bronze medal [Euros in Germany 2015], but I want gold before I retire. “That is what I’m going for. The bronze was an amazing feeling. But we can’t stop now. Gold is where we want to aim for.”

And the FA’s continued support and funding with the landmark Football Your Way three-year plan, has meant Clarke and his squad can focus on delivering on the pitch.

“It's a big help because it saves us the worry of having to fundraise and paying out of your own pocket for travel and everything like that,” said Clarke. “So when they gave us everything it felt like you had a free mind and could concentrate on the football more. It gives us a better chance to go for gold.” There's added incentive to come home from Malaysia with the title, after the Deaf Women’s futsal team became European champions in October.

Deaf Women’s football captain Emma Brown playfully teases Clarke with the achievement, but there is no jealousy from the men’s skipper. “For the women to win [Futsal Euros 2022 in Italy], it gives us extra motivation,” said Clarke.

“At the same time, we’re very proud of them because they deserve it and I witnessed what they did so I'm extremely proud of all the girls.” Entering the autumn of his career, Clarke has grown into a strong leader that the younger members of the squad respect, and is more than happy to help those who feel they are struggling.

“I’m a very confident captain,” said Clarke. “I think I’m a good role model as well. The players are comfortable with me which is the most important thing. “They always come to me for tips or advice, so I’m approachable and how I communicate all depends on the person.

“If the player prefers to speak, I’ll speak and if they prefer to sign, I’ll sign.” Alongside captain’s responsibilities, Clarke has several modelling contracts, including one with a London-based agency, but there’s no competition when it comes to which role takes priority. “In the past I would choose England captain over modelling if I had to keep one, and that is still the same," he said. "I have still got all the passion for football. I just love it.”

in action

in action

harry boorman reflects Watching his beloved Leicester City win the Premier League showed Harry Boorman that anything is possible in football.

But even in the right-back’s most ambitious moments, he could not have foreseen that being followed by representing his country before his teenage years were out. That’s exactly what happened in 2019, however, when Boorman was part of the England Deaf side who headed to Greece for the European Championships to begin what he hopes will become a long and fruitful career on the international stage. The pandemic may have put those plans on hold in recent times but, still just 21, the defender has his best years in front of him and hopes to be part of major tournaments at age-group and senior level over the next 18 months.

Boorman is still pinching himself at the opportunity he has been afforded and has found a band of brothers in the England Deaf set-up, led by captain Jamie Clarke – who the youngster credits as a particular source of inspiration. “It was hard growing up playing hearing football,” he said. “I was the only deaf person and I always wore my hearing aids, so on a windy day you’d have the wind blaring in your ears.

“In some hearing games, I’d get called names. When I was younger, I’d have reacted badly and maybe got sent off. Now, I’m proud of who I am, proud of my background and consider myself a polite young man. No-one is going to change that.“The skipper here, Jamie, was key to that mindset. He’s a cracking man and I look up to him highly. “He's a role model and in football, I hadn’t had a role model like that until coming into the England set-up.

“In football, and in life, you need people to look up to. Jamie is really positive, and I wasn’t positive before about myself, thinking I wasn’t good enough. “But then I realised it’s okay to make mistakes. If something goes wrong, you can put it right. As long as you work your hardest, that’s all you can do.”

Boorman, who grew up in Hinckley, now sees being a role model as an important part of his own status as an international deaf footballer. A wise head on young shoulders, the full-back can often be found spreading the word about the sport to ensure talented young players are aware of the options available to them and stay part of the game. “I get a lot of messages from parents of deaf children and I’ve been into quite a lot of schools to do speeches,” he said.

“I tell them the set-up is there for them to make the most of and that if you think you’re ready for a trial and you’re good enough, go for it and hopefully fulfil your dreams. “If someone needs help, or there’s a deaf person I’ve seen play on the hearing side, I’ll pass on the message as for me, discovering deaf football was a dream come true.

“Hopefully we can show more people it’s there – quite a few people out there still won’t know about it. The more people who know about it, the more people it will help.”

England Para head coach Andy Smith, along with a sign language interpreter during a training session at St. George's Park Training at St George’s Park has certainly helped raise awareness of the squad, who are preparing for next year’s World Championships in South Korea.

It is not just the world-class facilities Boorman and his teammates relish, with the England Deaf squad also delighted to be operating on a level playing field with internationals across the national set-up. “We had a training game on one of the [St George’s Park] pitches when the [senior men’s] England squad went down to Wembley for the EUROs final last year, and we were waving them off,” he said.“They could see us there, cheering them on, and just to be in the same place as them at the same time was incredible.

Every single time I come, I’m always excited, if not more excited than the previous time. It gives me something to work hard for every single day and it’s a great environment to be in.”

Adam lione targeting world title for para lions England’s Adam Lione has been waiting more than three years to even the score and defeat the unbeatable Ukraine.

In 2019, the England Partially Sighted squad lost their second consecutive World Championship final to four-time champions Ukraine, with Lione shown a dubious red card for deliberate handball. But for the first time since 2004, the Para Lions will have home advantage with the 2023 IBSA World Games held in Birmingham in August.

And Lione insists England have a better chance than ever to go one step further and lift the trophy. “We’ve got a big, big six months ahead," said Lione. "The squad is in the best position it has been, the players [manager] Steve Daley has brought in and what he’s getting out of them is remarkable. “It’s a really exciting time. Since the development squad has come back in the last couple of years it’s really putting the pressure on the likes of myself, John [McDougall], JP [Josh Pugh] and all the senior players.

“We’ve got people like Jake [Heasman], Liam Spinks and even Luke [Wynne?] who’s come in from nowhere at the age of 25 but has brought something to the squad straight away.

Lione recalled: “It was disappointing, right on the stroke of half time. I felt the ball hit my arm but I’m a B2 – there’s no way I can even see the ball from two yards away. “I saw the referee running over and I thought no way is he doing this, because there’s nothing I could do. “John [McDougall] was standing right next to me and even he was shouting at the ref: he’s a B2, you can’t be serious!

“I’m not ashamed to say I got into the changing room and smashed it up, lost my head a little bit and was pretty devastated. “It’s just one of those things. But it’s making me itch even more to go in August. I’ve had three-and-a-half years of that lingering in my mind.

“I feel like I’ve progressed as a player so much since then and I’m just ready to take on this tournament in August.”

Lione in full flow at a training camp for the England partially sighted team at St. George's Park in March It will be Lione’s fourth World Championships and England Partially Sighted Football captain John McDougall has seen his whole journey - from a cheeky youngster to one of the central cogs in the squad.

McDougall said: “When he joined, probably like a lot of the lads, Adam was frustrated, trying to find his feet as a person and a footballer. “Then you watch him through university, growing up and seeing him get into a relationship, buy a house and get a brilliant job. “He’s turned into a really mature lad, a really senior player, liked by everyone and very helpful. “It’s got to the point where the lads will go to him for advice, seeing him as someone that delivers on the pitch, but most importantly delivers off it.”

Lione now works as an assistant producer for broadcast production agency Whisper, jetting off around the globe to cover massive sporting events including the Paralympics, European Championships and box office boxing bouts.

It's truly a dream job for the 29 year old, who was born with Retinoblastoma, a genetic condition that nearly cost him his life at six months old.

squad 1 -Sam Edwards (GK) 2 - Harry Boorman 3 - Matt Oaten 4 - Joe Dixon 5 - Drew Rowley 6 - Rylan Casey 7 - Cavell Donaldson 8 - Philip Swift 9 - Jamie Clarke (C) 10 - Abdou Jobe 11 - Matt McQueeney 12 - Gino King 13 - Tommy Hobson (GK) 14 - Will Palmer 15 - Henry Bowe 16 - Ellis McLean 17 - Cole Neil 18 - Josh Feldman

1 -Lucas Pflugfelder 3 - Marc Christ 4 - Julian Hoffmeyer 5 - Nikolai Reifegsrste 6 - Dennis Karczewitz 7 - Jan Medewitz 9 - Lorenz Opitz 10 - Leon Schroder 11 - Robby Fischer 12 - Robin Bayer 14 - Marlon Seeburger 15 - Dennis Jukovskiy 17 - Luca Ballmann 18 - Eric Niekamp 19 - Dennis Oberdorfer 21 - Robin Plank

Head Coach - Andy Smith Assistant Coach - Ryan Lewis Assistant Coach - Sam Manoochehri GK Coach - Tony Elliott Kit Red Shirt / Red Short / Red Sock GK:- Yellow

Head Coach - Richard Konstantin Team Leader - Jens Becker Team Manager - Michael Scheffel GK Coach - Dirk Zimmermann physiotherapist - Sebstian Lohr Kit White Shirt / Black Short / White Sock GK: Blue