THE Great Britain amputee football team geared up for the World Cup with a game held at Oxford City FC’s Community Arena.

They depart for Mexico on a high after beating London Amputees, which featured Oxfordshire’s James Catchpole, on Sunday.

Mr Catchpole, 33, who was upbeat despite the comprehensive defeat, said: “It is a bit like when England go to the World Cup and they play someone like Trinidad and Tobago in their final friendly so they can beat them 5-0.

“But Sunday went really well and we had a great time.”

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Amputee football teams have seven players on each side, all of whom must have one fully functional leg and one that is partially or completely missing or deformed.

They make their way around the pitch on crutches and are not allowed to use prosthetics.

Mr Catchpole said after the game at Marsh Lane, Marston: “I lost my leg shortly after I was born but when I was about 14 I realised I could play football and then I got involved with the official side of things in about 1999.

“I am the only player from Oxfordshire so it would be great if more people got involved.”

Oxford Mail:

The Great Britain Amputees

The first amputee World Cup was held in Manchester in 1998, with Russia coming out on top.

The last tournament was held in 2012, won by Uzbekistan. The central Asian country is the most successful team in the history of the tournament with three titles.

Despite playing on crutches, amputee footballers can compete with many able bodied players. Mr Catchpole said: “We played a game at the weekend at Oxford Academy against a staff team and played them in a seven-a-side game over 40 minutes.

“They went 2-0 up either side of half time but we pegged them back to 2-2 and only lost to a late breakaway goal. We can keep up with a good-standard pub side.”


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