Deaf footballer thanks Lineker for ‘amazing’ support for fundraiser

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A player on the England Deaf Women’s Football Team said it is “amazing” to see support from sporting figures, including Gary Lineker, for a fundraiser to get the team to the World Cup in Malaysia. With the deadline to get the money fast approaching, Claire Stancliffe said that a recent £1,000 donation from sports pundit Lineker on the GoFundMe page, as well as £5,000 donations from ex-footballers Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard via the team’s initial fundraising page, have played an “amazing” role in helping spread the word on the campaign. “People don’t realise how hard it is to get involved, to socialise, the communication barriers and the isolation it brings and for me to go into a deaf football team, it’s a life changing experience. “You don’t need subtitles to watch football – it’s great, you can see what’s going on and I thought, I want to be like Steven Gerrard and that’s where my love of football came from.” She added that when she played football in her youth, it “was the one thing where I felt it didn’t really affect me” and went on to join the England Deaf Women’s Football Team at the age of 18.