The first international training camp, Warsaw, Poland – March 2023
I was beyond honoured to be invited to the first international training camp for female amputee football players. I’ve played since I was 7, winning the Staffordshire Ladies Cup 5 years in a row with my team Burntwood Phoenix.
When I lost my leg in May 2022 I never thought I’d play again until I saw a Twitter Video of the Female Polish Amputee Team promoting their first international training camp. I replied to say how wonderful it was and that I wished we had something like that in England, and just like that, I was invited.
It turns out we only have one English Amputee Female Player, Shelbee Clarke. I am now the second.
Now I’m certainly no Shelbee, having only played for the first time on crutches this weekend, but I learnt quickly and held my own. I was even paired with Fifa Puskas Award Winner Marcin Oleksy.
I might have lost my leg, but I haven’t lost my first touch, or my ability to pass accurately and strike the ball. My knowledge of the game also hasn’t disappeared and I can easily read where I can pick up the ball and send it. Confidence on my crutches will come and I’m fast on one leg. So watch this space. I’m a World Cup Winning Woman in the making.
Let’s just hope the English FA push this as much as Poland and other countries seem to be. The USA have a team, as do a few African nations and with a bit of support England could be next… I don’t just want to be popular in Poland:
Overall the weekend was great fun and has given me hope that football might be in my future once more.
