Emma’s an inspiration
Deaf footballer Emma Brown has represented England at European and World Championships and Great Britain at the Deaflympics, claiming bronze medals in all three. The 29-yearold, who has played for Manchester United, is now gearing up for next year’s World
Where did your passion for football begin?
My passion started when I was about six-years-old, playing football with the boys on my lunch break. I didn’t care I was only girl in the team.
What do you think are the most important qualities to excel as a footballer?
Commitment and determination. Do the training sessions even on the days you don’t feel like it, always push yourself to be the best you can.
What do you feel are the biggest challenges/hurdles for girls of all ages and abilities to get involved in football?
To be honest I think a lot of the challenges and hurdles I faced growing up have disappeared or become less of an issue. Most clubs have girls teams with a pathway to the senior teams and have investment for developing squads with access to quality coaches who are aware of the different dynamics between the men’s and women’s games.
What is life like playing for the Great Britain Deaf ladies team?
For me playing for GB is like being in a different world, as a deaf person I grew up in the hearing world and had struggles. When playing for GB I just seemed to fit in as we all face the same communication struggles and sign to each other. I have been playing for England and GB for over 12 years now and get to travel around the world and play against strong international teams which pushes us to play better.
What has been your proudest moment to date in your football career?
I have lots, I would say winning the penalty shoot-out in the bronze medal match against Poland at the 2013 Deaflympics in Bulgaria was a stand-out moment. Another proud moment for me was being given the captain’s armband at the Euros Futsal Championships in Finland in 2018.
How do you think the Women’s Euros will impact the women and girls’ game?
It’s going to have a massive impact. Women’s football is growing at a rapid rate and the level of football has improved so much due to the investments made in the game. It was amazing to see that the Women’s Euros final tickets sold out in 24 hours.
What advice would you give to a young girl who wanted to follow you and pursue a career as a footballer?
Don’t quit. Never compare yourself to others. Believe in yourself and you can achieve what you want. I would say the most important thing is to just enjoy it.
a picture of me doing the challenge, but the picture was awful - he just took it on his phone,” he writes.
“I had no idea what people were saying about that. I used to read the local paper, but otherwise I was well out of touch.
“I was mainly writing songs and scavenging for drugs – of which there are a lot in Margate – so it didn’t really affect me.
“Jai would say, ‘It’s blown up, this thing about the breakfast’.
“It’s funny because in The Libertines I have the nickname Pigman.”
Not all bad
Mr Doherty says while his addiction issues landed him in more than the occasional spot of bother in Margate, there were “good moments too”.
He tells how his bandmates in The Libertines would often pop down to Thanet to visit.
“One time in the middle of the night we all made a fire on the beach with crates and petrol,” he recalls.
“Carl and I would have these mostly unsuccessful writing
sessions at the hotel. We were trying to write some scripts together, and I was doing lots of little gigs around Margate, mixing with musicians and underground theatre people - there was an exodus of creative energy from London, people who couldn’t afford to live there.”
Trying to save a hedgehog
Mr Doherty says he was also none the wiser about the stir caused by his stay in hospital for treatment on a gash from a hedgehog spike. For three days he ignored the cut until it became infected. He described the medics at the Manchester Royal Infirmary as absolute angels when he was discharged.
The personality says he suffered the injury after trying to save the creature from his dogs.
He adds: “I had a proper good connection in Liverpool. He came by train [to Manchester] and brought me 10 of each, so I was lovely in that room with my f ***** finger, smoking the brown and white in the hospital.”
‘I’m alive and well’
In 2019, while on tour in Paris, Mr Doherty was arrested twice in 48 hours - the first time for trying to score drugs and the second for attacking a man on a scooter who reportedly came close to colliding with the singer’s dogs.
The rocker avoided jail, despite being convicted of cocaine possession and affray, saying he was “very lucky” to stay free. Since then, he has used Buvidal to treat his addiction. He credits it for helping him steer clear of heroin over the past two years, along with his move to Normandy with his wife, Katia de Vidas, just before the pandemic. But he says he was tempted to stay in Margate for the rest of his life.
“I’m alive and well and sleeping every night now,” he says in his book. “I do miss England, though.”
A Likely Lad by Pete Doherty and Simon Spence, published by Little, Brown, is available from Amazon and Waterstones.