Aalayah Clarke

Sports Award

Age:

16

Biography

Hi, my name is Aalayah Clarke. I am profoundly deaf. This was detected at birth so at 13 months old I was implanted with cochlear implants. These give me better access to sound. My hearing isn't great but I get by. For as long as I can remember I've loved and played football. When I was 2 I had a little pink pop up goal and a plastic pink ball. I played with that set until it fell apart. I continued to play with my brother and sister until one day my mum found a flyer in my school bag for girls football just around the corner from us. My mum gave them a call and they were happy to take a look at me even though I was deaf.

Well, that's where it all began. Leicester City Ladies, the oldest all female club in the country taught me my football basis and absolute love of the game. I played with these until I was 13 as I played a year up and they were moving the team up another year band thus making me too young. After I left I continued to help coach the young Wildcats in the hope of inspiring Leicester's new up and coming female talent. I moved to a different Leicester team called Beaumont Park Wildcatz. I also started to play with Rugby Borough's Junior Premier League team. I've played for these teams for 2 seasons now and moving into a third.

At 10 years old I attended a football tournament at St George's Park. I was spotted there and invited to attend the Regional Emerging talent program for England's Deaf Women. I attended this 4 times a year until I was invited to tryouts for the National Emerging Talent Program at the start of last season. I attend here approximately 6 times a year including camps, these are held at St George's Park and Lilleshall hall. I'm hoping to progress through to the development squad later this season when I turn 16.

In January 2024 I was invited to try out for GB deaf Women's futsal team. I didn't think I'd be old enough so went along to get some experience in trials at that level. I got shortlisted but had to get some futsal training as I'd never played futsal before. I joined PSA futsal and started training and learning the rules of the game. I did get selected and actually represented Great Britain, in March, at the Winter Deaflympics in Turkey. I scored on my debut and had an amazing time. The experience of going out and being involved in an international tournament is amazing.

On arriving home from Turkey I received an invitation to attend try outs for GB Deaf women's football team which I attended in May. After a couple of trials I am officially on the squad to represent Great Britain in Tokyo in the summer Deaflympics 2025 in Tokyo. This is being held in November 2025. I have training camp in Doncaster every other weekend. Qualifiers start in October at home against Poland. Hopefully we'll qualify and then go on to represent Great Britain in Tokyo.

I also got invited to join Derby women's futsal team which is great and hopefully my future goes from here.

Aalayah said: "I am so grateful to receive a JHMT Inspire Award grant as it has helped me purchase essential equipment etc so I can follow my dream to represent my country at the highest level."