Ulster Deaf Sports Council celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and, at the annual meeting, they were honoured by the presence of Craig Crowley, chair of UK Deaf Sport (UKDS), who was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2006.

Craig explained that UKDS has now replaced the British Deaf Sports Council as the governing body for deaf sport in the UK. UKDS aims to increase awareness of deafness in mainstream sport along with possible involvement in the disability sports strategy. UKDS is building up branches in Scotland and Wales as well as England and Craig would like to see Northern Ireland more actively involved.

For more about Deaf Sports in Ireland, click here

To read about Middlesborough FC's Jason Euell, who is deaf in his left ear, click here