'The main thing we want to do as players is be a role model to the ...

Written by:

Cavell Donaldson

My name is Cavell Donaldson, I am 24 and I play for the England men’s deaf team. 

I actually only got into deaf football when I was 20 so I have not been playing it for long. I knew nothing about deaf football growing up so I had played mainstream all of my life.

Then one day, I saw something about deaf football on social media and I got into it.

The funny thing is I got into it just as lockdown was happening so I had to wait but now for the last two years I have been able to train with and play for England. 

It is why I’m keen to be involved with articles like this and talk more about deaf football to try to encourage people to get involved because there are so many children and adults who don’t know anything about deaf football.

I was six years old when I started playing football. I would play for my local team as a kid which was a ten-minute walk from my house in Manchester, where I still live now.

I then went into high school football and college football and carried on from there.

I’ve been playing for England three or four years now and it is just the best feeling. 

I will never forget that first moment of playing for England and wearing the shirt. You felt so professional. I worked really hard to get to that position and I just love it.

I haven’t had the chance to play in a major tournament yet but we have the World Cup coming up later this year in Malaysia so I am working hard to try to make the squad.

I just can’t imagine what it would feel like to represent my country at a World Cup. I am going to try my absolute best to make that tournament.

If the team train really hard then I think we have a good chance of doing well at the tournament.

Last year I had the chance to play at the FA Disability Cup Final live on BT Sport for Farsley Celtic Deaf as we beat St. John’s 3-2. 

I believe it was the first time there was a deaf club football match live on TV and it was one of my favourite games I have ever played in.

All your friends and family are watching you and the most important thing is that we won.

After the game, I checked my phone and it was blowing up, with messages telling me that I had done amazingly well. It was such a good feeling.

It feels really nice and I feel very lucky knowing that young kids might be watching the matches and being inspired. 

I am hoping to do the same again when Farsley Celtic play St. John’s again in the League Championship at this year’s FA Disability Cup on Saturday. 

It was fantastic of BT Sport to show the FA Disability Cup live because it is helping bring more people into the sport and that is what we want to do. It is great they are not just showing mainstream football but all these disability football matches as well.

The main thing we want to do as players is be a role model to the little ones. We want them to be like us when they get older and it is why we are trying our best to be the best role models that we can be.

When I got into deaf football, I looked up to Jamie Clarke and Joe Dixon because they are experienced players and I’m really glad I have had the chance to get to know them.

They help bring the best out of you. When I was younger, I was a little bit shy about playing football because of being deaf but when I spoke to them, they had been through the same and told me there is nothing bad about it at all. It is just life and they help make you feel safe when playing football.

Looking to the rest of this year, beyond the FA Disability Cup, I want to win the World Cup with England. We are working towards it in camps and I believe we can do it.