In Video: Ellie Betteridge gives a BTS look at England's Deaf Futsal Championship journey

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The Journey to the World Cup

Ellie Betteridge is one of the talented players selected to represent England in the 2025 World Championships. With a moderate hearing loss and a passion for football, Ellies’ determination has led her to the pinnacle of her career.

From Hiding Her Hearing Loss to Embracing Her Disability

Growing up, Ellie struggled to accept her hearing loss. She often hid her hearing aids and felt like she had to hide her disability. However, it wasn’t until she was 16 that she started playing football and found a community that welcomed her for who she was. She soon discovered the England Deaf Football team and was thrilled to be a part of it.

Balancing Football and Family Life

As a project manager for Virgin Media, Ellie has to balance her work and family life. Her partner, Steve, is very supportive and has been her rock throughout her football journey. They met at university and have a little boy together who is thriving. When asked about being a parent, Ellie said, “Having a baby is the biggest shock you’ll ever have, and it does put a bit of a strain on your relationship. But I think it also brings you out the other side and you just realize that I’ve got Forest at home looking after me so that I can go and do these things.”

Representing England with Pride

Ellie is one of the most fluent players on the England team and has been selected to be part of the team for the 2025 World Championships. She is excited to represent her country and feels that it’s an honor to wear the England shirt. “It’s a great feeling to be part of a team and to be able to represent my country. I feel like it’s a dream come true.”

Communication and Teamwork

The England team is a diverse and inclusive group, with a range of hearing loss and communication styles. Ellie and her teammate Lucy, who she will be sharing a room with, are both learning British Sign Language to help them communicate with each other. “We’ve got interpreters as well, and a few members of the team are quite fluent in BSL, so there’s always someone around to help us communicate if we need it.”

The Road to the Euros

The team has had a strong start to the World Cup, winning 4 out of 5 matches. Ellie is excited to see how the team performs in the Euros in March and hopes to redeem themselves after being knocked out in the quarterfinals. With a good squad and a strong setup, they are determined to bring home the gold.