England Deaf international footballer Will Palmer is aiming to raise £4,000 to represent Great Britain at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo later this year.
The Deaflympics, also known as the Deaflympiad, is a multi-sport event sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for deaf athletes. First held in Paris in 1924, the Deaflympics represents the pinnacle of elite-level deaf sport — and Will hopes to be part of the Great Britain squad for this year’s Games, taking place from 15 to 26 November.
Will has already earned international caps for England, having made the Deaf World Cup squad in 2023. However, despite his achievements, he now faces the challenge of raising £4,000, as Great Britain Deaf Football is tasked with collectively securing £300,000.
“We’re not funded by any governing body,” Will told Fen Regis Trophies. “We’re not supported at all… so, unfortunately, we have to fundraise ourselves.”
“I Found Every Single Training Session Difficult”
Will was born profoundly deaf and has worn a cochlear implant — an electronic device that restores some hearing — from an early age. Playing as a forward, he competed in mainstream football throughout his youth, representing his local sides Hampton Football Club and Stamford AFC.
Though highly talented, often scoring freely at junior level, Will admits his disability presented significant challenges.
“I found every single training session difficult,” he told Fen Regis Trophies. “I found every single match difficult in terms of communication and trying to understand what the coaches were saying.
“You face a lot of barriers when you’re playing football. With the weather — it can be windy or raining — and for someone wearing cochlear implants, I can’t wear them in the rain, otherwise they’ll break.
“If it’s too windy, the sound just goes straight into the microphone, and it’s like wind hitting a microphone — it sounds horrible.”
Will added: “It’s a little barrier every time you play, but when I was younger, and even now, I don’t really care if my implant breaks, so long as I’m kicking a ball with my feet.”
International Breakthrough
Having impressed in mainstream football, Will was invited to attend a trial for the England Deaf team in February 2020. Despite suffering an injury during the trial, he still managed to earn a place.
“Luckily,” he said, “the manager (Andy Smith) was pretty happy with what he saw. I injured my knee halfway through the trial and couldn’t carry on, but the manager said I’d done enough… a few weeks later, he picked me for my first camp.”
Unfortunately, Will had to wait for his international debut as the COVID-19 pandemic brought all sport to a halt.
“We came back in 2021, over a year later, and had our first game against America in May 2022.”
Since then, Will has gone on to earn 17 caps for England, including appearances in a European Championship and a World Cup.
GB Ambition
Will’s next ambition is to bring home silverware for Great Britain at the Deaflympics in Tokyo. But with an overall fundraising target of £300,000 just to get the team to Japan, he knows the challenge ahead is a steep one.
“I simply won’t be able to go if we don’t hit the fundraising target,” Will stated. “I’ll be doing my absolute best over the next four or five months to make sure I get on that plane to Tokyo.
“I’m currently looking for sponsors, as I don’t want to keep relying on family and friends to donate.
“I’m willing to take part in any fundraising event — whatever it takes to get on that plane.”
You can support Will and Great Britain Deaf Football’s quest for Deaflympics success by donating to Will’s fundraising page: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/will-palmer2
By Aaron Gratton
