George & Co merit thanks Our game’s unsung heroes hailed at Hampden
platform. But a deaf team against a hearing team… maybe we get the hearing team to wear earplugs so they can’t communicate with each other.
“I’m sure if they were brought down to our level with loss of hearing we could probably beat some of them. But it’s a sad fact, it is there to see.
“I am hoping one day that one team voluntarily does say, ‘We’ll play Glasgow in a friendly and put on some headphones’ so they can actually experience what it is like for us. They would soon realise how tough it is.”
Knowing all too well that so many deaf children are isolated, high on his wish list is setting up a camp “that is inclusive for them”. George, who credits his brother Peter with giving him his happiest football memories as a kid, added: “We need deaf children to have a platform so deaf children’s football at early years and not to go through what I did. It is important if they love the game, they shouldn’t feel they have to back off and feel withdrawn.”
George may have only been on stage for a matter of minutes but his message is not one that should be easily forgotten.
He said: “It is more for the hearing community, maybe a wee wake-up call to let them know there are good deaf players out there who can play.
“The only issue they have is the language barrier. We really need to teach them. Don’t be scared to teach them, especially for maybe mainstream coaches.
“I understand that they are planning sessions and really busy but it is important to make sure if they have a deaf kid joining clubs, they’re involved.
“Ke e p i t v i su a l , d o demonstrations and if you do that then you can release their potential for the future.
“I believe that one day you could actually get a deaf football player making it to the professional levels.
“I want to see deaf football growing. It seems to be diminishing, we need to grow it again and have something to pass on to the next generation.”