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Shining a Spotlight on the People Behind the Scenes

Writes: Sam Seddon-Davies


As the Women's Amputee World Cup draws near, the England Amputee Football Association would like to express our sincerest gratitude to everyone who has had a helping hand in getting our Lionesses to the tournament.


It has been a process full of highs and lows, but everybody behind the scenes has taken huge strides to make participating in the tournament possible.


When we reflect on the journey of the Women's National Team from their first training camp last November to now, we simply cannot go on without recognising the efforts of all the people involved.


The fundraising campaign, which has seen more money raised than we could have imagined, has been extremely successful.


The charity now have enough funds to not only send the players and staff to Colombia to compete, but to secure the future of the team with training camps, kit, equipment and more in the next year.


This would not be possible without the hard work of many.


Thank you to the McDonald's Female Franchising Forum for their private donations and support in launching initial fundraising efforts when the Women's National Team was first created last year. To Laura Wilder, Jane Blackwell, Afia Sirkhot, Anisha Sharma, Carol Rogerson, Shafali Shown-Keen and Nikki Remmer - the women who gave other women have the spotlight.


This summer, the fundraising went public with the help of Deane Thrussell, Ed Chilcott and the team at Kitchen Soho Advertising Agency. Together, they created an incredible film and campaign which saw some of the players' emotional stories broadcast on social media, in cinemas and in advertising breaks during Sky Sports and The Paralympics.


Additionally, Nick Ede and Limited Space Media helped the campaign grow by getting coverage in the national press and pictures on billboards across the country.


EAFA would not have garnered the attention nor support we have received without the countless hours of professional pro-bono work put in to getting this campaign filmed, edited and seen.

Tate Willis reviewing footage with filmmaker Deane Thrussell. Credit: PDRPhotos.



The Lionesses were met with constant support from the public that was massively boosted by visibility on morning television.


John Watson and his team at BBC Breakfast shared a passion for the Amputee Lionesses to be known, lending three consecutive days of coverage on their show. We are extremely grateful for their work which resulted in a grand scale of support from people and famous faces, including Sir Rod Stewart. This helped us not only achieve our fundraising goal, but go thousands of pounds beyond it.


EAFA give their thanks to all the newspapers, websites, radio stations, social media pages and television shows that have and will continue to share our story. To BBC Breakfast, BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC World Service, This Morning, ITV Granada News, Channel 4, Sky Sports, and so many others.


John Terry added his name to a list of celebrities supporting the team. The former England and Chelsea captain, alongside the John Terry Foundation and the Chelsea Foundation, invited members of the Women's National Team and EAFA staff to a tour of the Cobham Training Grounds before watching Chelsea vs Real Madrid in the Women's Champions League from the player's private box.


Thank you for giving our players unforgettable experiences, for letting Chelsea fan Shelbee Clarke meet one of her idols, and for giving amputee football an audience.

Lionesses with John Terry at Stamford Bridge. Credit: John Terry Foundation.


Supporting a national team on their journey to a World Cup takes more than media coverage.


Andy Stewart at Kick Off Sports Milton Keynes offered significant discounts to access football pitches and it became a place most of the team would train on outside of EAFA camps. Thank you for giving players the opportunity to grow and develop their skills throughout the year. We look forward to continuing to use your excellent facilities in the future.


Thank you to Laltex Group for donating EAFA-branded water bottles for players and staff which will be used in Colombia and beyond.


Thank you to all the companies and brands, such as Fletchers Solicitors, that have donated to the team in a variety of ways. And to our primary Women's National Team sponsors Muslim Aid. Your gracious support will allow us to enhance our processes with increased equipment and materials, giving the players a better chance at success.


A special thank you to our regular partners at Reaseheath College and Wychwood Park Hotel, who always supply high quality pitches, classrooms, changing rooms, accommodation, meeting rooms and meals. Your unwavering support of the Women's National Team and all EAFA programs makes what we do possible.

Players training at Reaseheath College. Credit: PDRPhotos.


Most importantly, we recognise our excellent staff.


As volunteers, they put in an enormous amount of hard work to keep the charity operating how it should. Their passion, drive and consistency makes us proud, not just during camps and tournaments, but each and every day they contribute to the charity.


They continue to uphold a professional environment with their specialist skills and determined attitudes, nurturing the growth of players on and off the pitch. The road to the Women's World Cup has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but our staffing teams have worked tirelessly to meet the physical, emotional and operational needs of the players.


We would not be who we are without our dedicated staff. For those that have been with the Lionesses from the beginning, those that joined along the way, and those who have since departed, thank you for persevering through the challenges and for celebrating the accomplishments.


To the staff in the charity that so rarely get the spotlight, we want to give our thanks.


Our wonderful graphics team, who constantly produce amazing work for our social media pages and website, thank you for enhancing our coverage in such a wonderful fashion throughout the year. We look forward to showing the world what your stunning Women's World Cup graphics have to offer.


Our photographers, who attend training camps and matches through rain or shine. Thank you for capturing the action of amputee football. Your unique visions of the sport are truly treasured. Peter Robinson and David Grierson have worked closely with the Women's National Team during the year and their special shots have been enjoyed by players and staff alike.


Pete Muller offered exceptional work for a pro-bono photoshoot of the players, providing our official Women's World Cup headshots. Thank you for working so hard on getting the fun, encouraging and formal shots of the team.

Strength & Conditioning Lead Milly Pittaway tending to a player. Credit: PDRPhotos.


As a charity, we know how difficult it can be to stay positive and consistent in the sport.


To all the families, friends and loved ones of EAFA players and staff, thank you for always giving your support and encouragement when it gets hard and for being the first to cheer when we find success.


Sally Remmer and Jan Cerretti, the mothers of Amputee Lionesses Annabel Kiki and Keeley Cerretti, thank you for your enduring efforts to showcase the team and getting the charity seen on a national level in so many ways. To every parent, guardian, sibling or friend that has travelled to watch the team play, your dedication to the players is admirable and means more than you might know.


Above all else, EAFA would like to thank every person who has donated to the charity in recent months. Whether you gave a pound or a thousand pounds, every penny has made a world of difference to us. Your generosity and support has been humbling and we will be eternally grateful to you for helping us participate in this historic tournament.


The England Women's National Team hope to do you proud.

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