England Women’s Amputee Football Team Prepares for Inaugural World Cup, Coach Describes it as a ‘Pinch-Yourself Moment’

Harry Smith, who has served as head coach for England’s women’s amputee football team for a mere two months, will see his squad depart for Colombia on Saturday to compete in the sport’s inaugural World Cup. The 28-year-old shared with the BBC that the team’s journey to the tournament has been “a bit mad,” describing their rapid progression. The coach from Worcester stated, “It’s a pinch-yourself moment really. When I got into coaching it was a dream of mine to represent my country. “It doesn’t get much better than that.” The team, whose training base is in Nantwich, is scheduled to play their initial match on Monday against Peru. Mr Smith commented, “I think everyone’s just incredibly excited now. We’re going to a World Cup, which we never thought we’d be going to.” Matches in the tournament are played with seven players per side, and each half spans 25 minutes. According to Mr Smith, “The rules don’t change that much, the end goal is to get the ball at the back of the net.” He added, “It’s the sport everyone loves, the beautiful game, just in another format.” Among the team members is 16-year-old Annabel Kiki from Cannock, who plays in the striker position. Discussing her participation in the World Cup, she informed the BBC, “It means so much to me and all the girls here because life can be hard for so many people and it’s about what you do with it.” She continued, “All these girls have just looked forward. I mean, we’re going to a World Cup. I never ever ever thought I’d say that in my life. But I’m so proud of these girls.” The squad has garnered significant public interest since their appearance on BBC Breakfast, which has increased awareness of the sport. Mr Smith observed, “The general reaction is people are amazed how physical and skilful the sport is.” He elaborated, “People think it’s very slow and not skilful – then they see the sport and go wow, look how skilful it is, how amazing the players are, how strong they are.” The team comprises athletes from diverse backgrounds; some became amputees due to cancer or accidents, while others were born with limb deficiencies. The 28-year-old coach stated, “We have girls from all ventures of life and when they come together, you get a huge sense of relatability between the girls.” He added, “That person understands what they have gone through and there’s a huge sense of togetherness from the group.” He continued, “You can really feel that family environment when you walk into the training room, the girls really do care about each other.” He concluded, “The past is in the past and they just focus on where they are now and the amazing opportunities that lie ahead. They’re an amazing group and we are a family.” Nevertheless, the path for the Lionesses to reach the inaugural women’s amputee football World Cup was not without its challenges. The team was required to secure £50,000 in funding to participate in the pioneering tournament held in South America. They had reached half of their fundraising goal before their appearance on BBC Breakfast, after which the team successfully met their target overnight. Among their supporters was former England and Chelsea captain, John Terry, who contributed financially and provided kit to the team. He also extended an invitation for them to visit Stamford Bridge, where he trained alongside them and later accompanied them to a women’s match at the venue in the evening. Mr Smith stated, “He was incredibly impressed with the skill level of the sport.” He added, “John’s been incredible. He picked up the story and helped share it, and the support he has given the girls has been fantastic as well.” Although the coach is delighted that the team achieved its fundraising objective, he desires for the team to attain financial stability, thereby eliminating the need to fundraise for every tournament they participate in. He explained, “It’s about investing in the sport and the charity through sponsorships and media deals.” He further emphasized, “For them to recognise us as a sport and see the importance of it.” For more updates, follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.