Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland donates £5,000 to Great Britain's women's deaf football team campaign

The team want to qualify for the Deaf World Cup and the England international's donation means the team have met their initial fundraising target

Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland (Getty Images)

Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland has made a donation of £5,000 to Great Britain’s women’s deaf football team in a bid to help them travel to next year’s Deaf World Cup.

The team, which hopes to travel to Italy and compete in the tournament next June, recently began an online appeal with an initial fundraising target of £10,000.

Following Butland’s donation, that target has been reached. The appeal is, however, still accepting donations as the team look to raise funds to meet the total £20,000 cost of their campaign.

England women’s internationals Lucy Bronze, Jade Moore, Jo Potter and Fran Kirby, as well as Wales international Jess Fishlock have also lent their support to the appeal.

Butland tweeted: “I've learnt a lot from major tournaments, experiences I'll never forget, I'd love for you to experience the same!”

A promotional video featuring the Lionesses’ Jade Moore and Lianne Sanderson, as well as head coach Mark Sampson and former Great Britain triple-jumper Jonathan Edwards, launched the campaign.

Claire Stancliffe, who won bronze at the 2008 Deaf World Cup with Great Britain, tweeted: “Physically shaking!! Thank you so much @JackButland_One. Our dream may well become a reality”.

You can donate to the campaign by visiting their JustGiving campaign here.