Sporty Jake’s call for help
SUNDERLAND FOOTBALL PLAYER HOPING TO PLAY IN INTERNATIONAL GAME
A sporting star from Wearside is calling on the public to help him grace the international football stage later this month.
Sunderland Deaf AFC star Jake Rowan has already played for the Great Britain Deaf Football Team, but has been called up for the Scotland senior team for a friendly against Belgium.
With the Deaf World Cup taking part in two years time, the Scotland side are hoping to be a part of the tournament.
However, with players having to self fund-raise towards their own costs, Jake and his team-mates are appealing to the public to help support them financially.
Jake, who qualifies to play for the country through his Scottish grandfather, said: “We have a friendly against Belgium, in Belgium, on the weekend of the 28th and 29th of this month that the Scottish FA are helping us a lot with tracksuits etc.
“However, we still have to raise £130 per player for travel to the game, such as flights.
“The squad as a whole are hoping to raise £2,500, which would see us get there without paying out of our own pocket.” Jake, a former New Silksworth Juniors and Venerable Bede pupil, first started playing football when he was eight and has enjoyed numerous successes with Sunderland Deaf AFC since signing for the club.
Should the Wearsiders win their next game, they will qualify for the Deaf Champions League to take place in Berlin in Germany next year.
To help with the team’s fund-raising go to https:// www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/ScotlandDeafFootballInternationalTeambelgium