1. How did you get in to playing football?

I used to go and watch my younger brother play football locally and then from there we’d go to the riverside to see Middlesbrough reserves back in the day with my grandad and brother and it grew from there my interest and that’s how I started really.

2. What sort of challenges or obstacles have you faced when trying to begin or build your career?

Obviously through football you suffer great highs and bad lows it’s part of why we love it, but the main issues and obstacles I’ve had would be making teams and making sure I keep my place from a personal side. I’ve been positive through my career and that’s how I think I’ve just about managed to keep myself going at times, knowing no matter what it will get better.

3. What kind of specialised support is there that’s available to people with Cerebral Palsy who want to start playing sport?

There’s a lot of inclusion for all in sports now and everything can be played by anyone and everyone. I think it’s just how sports have improved and with more coverage now in the Cerebral Palsy Team and recognising it as a big deal. There’s a lot more clubs that include a disability side or have programs for people with disabilities like CP, no one should miss out on playing sport through a disability, sport should be there for all.

4. How did it feel when you made your debut for England?

Haha! I don’t really know how to put it into a sentence… it took my breath away walking out in front of a packed St George’s park and seeing my family especially my grandad in the stand. Amazing!

5. Have you faced any form of discrimination in your career?

No not really, I mean in football when your in a tournament environment competitive words are healthy but I’ve not seen or heard anything in person that’s goes further than that. listen in any form of sport no matter what it is there’s always going to be idiots we just need to ignore them and they’ll soon shut up.

6. What advice would you give to anyone who’d like to follow in your foot steps and become a footballer despite having CP?

If I could mentor someone and take them on their journey to where I am now, I would say work behind the scenes. Get yourself happy within yourself. If you feel good, you reflect that in your attitude, self belief is massive to me and helps me that little 5% extra. But the main one for me is don’t give up. Never never never never give up little or slow progress is still progress.

7. How did it feel when you scored your first goal against Ireland?

Haha! A mixture of feelings basically. I watched a Rooney documentary and it showed little bits of career fast forwarding through it right to a goal for England, that’s the best way to describe it. As soon as I scored, obviously I hand this unbelievable feeling but, thinking about the goal in a break in play and after the game I was just that thinking of where I came from to now. Goosebumps!

8. How does it feel playing for England ?

Playing for England is a honour and a privilege that not many people get to do and to be captain is something that I couldn’t describe, so it’s a dream would be the best way to describe it.

9. Do you feel more exposure should be given to disability sports?

Yes massively! Exposure in our sport would be huge. I’ve been fortunate to be part of Nike promoting things, as well as telling the teams story and my own. From that people are generating more and more interest in our sport it’s good to see it’s starting to improve now, so more exposure like the lionesses side would be huge.

10. What kind of impact has the pandemic had on your sport?

Yeah, the virus has played havoc with our training camps, but it’s picking up now, we miss the camps and the I miss the lads and staff, but we train away from camps individually anyway, but yeah, main thing is keeping safe and healthy during this time.