Boy Dunne good: Captain of Hackney deaf team on his proudest moment

Captain Darren Dunne led St John’s to win the deaf football cups in both the England and UK competitions

The 2012 Paralympic games was for many the first time the had ever seen football played by a whole team of differently-able people. But deaf football leagues date back to 1871, and Manor House-based club St John’s FC was established back in 1913.

Last June, the team won the British Deaf Cup, and became the first team to ever win both the English and British competitions.

Captain Darren Dunne says that the win was down to a new sense of discipline amongst the players: “It was the ultimate test for my team.

“We have a strong young squad with a lot of skills but in the past we lacked team discipline.

“But we put an enormous effort in training, encouraged our youth players break into the first team, and regularly reminded the players about the importance of team work.”

Younger members of the team felt nervous about playing at that level but despite a few “silly passes”, Dunne says, ball possession was excellent and the pressure helped players to focus.

“It was wonderful to see deaf and hearing spectators enjoying the matches so much,” he adds, “and they gave us a biggest roar when we lifted the cup! The noise was incredible.”

Deaf football players may not be entirely deaf; under international rules, anyone with an average hearing loss of 55 decibels in their good ear is eligible to play for a deaf team. Fifty-five decibels is around the volume of a quiet indoor conversation.

Experienced player

Dunne, 36, was born in Ireland but moved to the UK to pursue a career in football.

He’d had an interest in Gaelic football from a young age and played for League of Ireland team St Patrick’s Atheltic.

As a young athlete he played against several well-known Irish players such as Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne, Stephen McPhail, and
Richie Partridge.

Despite courting attention from several London clubs, Dunne was won over when St Johns manager Memnos Costi approached him personally.

“When I met Memnos I already knew the history of St Johns,” Dunne explains. “But he told me he had a vision to build St Johns into a big club and achieve greater things for young deaf footballers.”

Costi says that Dunne is an amazing captain for the team: “First and foremost, he leads by example. “He is technically gifted, reads the game amazingly well and plays simple, neat and effective football.

“Yet he has this real drive within him, never gives up and has an immense motivation to win at all times, whether its a least game of the league or a cup final.”

In the course of his career he’s had a few funny moments from misconceptions of deaf football: “For instance, we once played against a hearing side.

“The referee blew a whistle to stop the game and some of my players kept running with the ball and missed a chance to score. Sometimes players have had yellow cards for ignoring the whistle.”

Deaf footballers know very well to keep their heads up and know where everyone is on the football, rather than relying on team mates’ signals – a discipline hearing footballers could learn from deaf players.

But, he adds, in his experience referees have been supportive.

Dunne says that sportsmanship and “a winning attitude” are key to great football, and names Xavi as his sporting idol: “He’s probably the best midfielder in the world. The way he play football, lulls opponents to sleep with the tick tock of the ball moving from one side to the other before surging forward for the kill.”

And his proudest moment in the competition? “Seeing my players become men, not kids, and earning a self respect that makes them stronger in real life.”