“Playing at the World Cup is the biggest thing you can ever do.” - Thomas Atkinson interview

Image: Matt Milford (@ThreeLinesPhotography)

Writes: Edward Perry

England return to CW5 this weekend as preparations continue towards the WAFF World Cup. The EAFA speaks to goalkeeper Thomas Atkinson ahead of April’s training camp.

The World Cup in Mexico arrives later in the year, giving England extra time to ready themselves amid squad changes.

“I think it's actually been really beneficial that the World Cup has been held back until November,” Atkinson tells The EAFA website.

“Obviously it gives us a bit of extra time but also, we've had a bit of turnover in our squad with people stepping away and retiring from international football. It gives us those extra sessions on the pitch together with new members of the squad, which has been going really well.

“Of course, we are already aware of each other but to be able to compete as a team with a few different faces, I think the more time we get the better and it can help us out in the long term. I think you'll see that when it comes to tournament time, people will have really gelled together.”

Being a World Cup year, Thomas recognises there is an excitement and focus that working towards the biggest stage can bring.

“I’ve always said playing at the World Cup is the biggest thing you can ever do.

“People always ask how many World Cups you've been to or how many World Cups you've won. No one tends to ask you about how many Nations Leagues you have won, how many FA Cups have you won, how many Euros you've won. The World Cup is the be all and end all. It’s the one that every single player wants to say they’ve played in and won.”

Like everyone, Atkinson dreamed of playing in such tournaments as a youngster, “I played at one before and it was electric. I was really young at the time, I was 17, and it was the first time I started at a tournament.”

Image: Peter Robinson (@PDRPhotos)

Since then, Thomas has continued building on his tournament pedigree and won Best Goalkeeper during England’s Nations League victory in 2023. His experience, even at a young age, has led to him commanding a role in the squad’s leadership group.

“This time around I’m playing a big role in the team at the World Cup. It’s going to be a fresh feeling the fact that I'm playing all the time at a World Cup, which is something I haven't done before even though I've been playing for quite a while.

“Everyone wants to go to a World Cup and play a major role and play their part in what England's journey is like. Whether it's amazing or whether it's where we want to be or whether it's not - you want to be able to say that you were one of the people that managed to decide where that journey went.”

But to get to the World Cup in Mexico, The EAFA needs your help.

You can play a vital role in the journey and power England to the biggest stage in amputee football.

Click here to donate and share The EAFA’s fundraising page.

Thomas Atkinson is sponsored by Japanese Knotweed Agency, who are proudly supporting the goalkeeper to the World Cup.

You can also contact The EAFA about a range of sponsorship opportunities, with player and squad packages available.

Together we can make a difference.