NON-LEAGUE fan Grant Payne is hoping he can raise the necessary funds to head out to Germany with the Great Britain deaf football team for the EDSO European Deaf Football Championships.
Payne has been selected as kit manager/logistics officer to the Great Britain team for the eighth European Championships to be held in Hannover, Germany from June 13-28.
The GB team demolished Norway 10-0 in London back in September to qualify and they have been drawn alongside holders Russia, Denmark and the Czech Republic.
However, to be able to attend the championships, Payne needs funding help with the sport receiving no financial aid.
GB Deaf Football Team manager Phillip Gardner said: “It is greatly unfortunate that Great Britain Deaf Football are not funded by the Football Association nor the elite sports governing bodies.
“Therefore each member of the team has to raise £1,000 towards participating in the most prestigious deaf football event. The players have to do the fund raising themselves, and we are looking for sponsors to help reduce the burden of having to raise £25,000 for the whole team.
“Grant is complimented for his 100 per cent commitment to GB Football and thoroughly deserves his dual role at the Europeans.
“Not only we are confident in reaching the knock-out stages, we feel we are genuine contenders for the gold medal. And we have assembled a very healthy squad of skilled deaf footballers from all over Great Britain.”
If you wish to help Grant's cause, you can email him at grant@catalan5.plus.com
