Former Haywards Heath student makes full debut for England deaf team

A former Haywards Heath College student, and current academy assistant, Matty Mackay, was recently called up to represent the England Deaf Football Team earlier this year.  

Matty studied a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport at the college between 2022 and 2024 and has since gone on to work as an academy assistant with the college, helping coach football and futsal at the college, as well as working at Oathall Community College. 

He was called up for an away trip in May, when the team travelled to Denmark and played two friendlies against the hosts within 24 hours.  

Matty started the first game, scoring and providing an assist on his debut. He then went on to register another assist in his second game, with the team going on to win both games 5-0 and 6-0.  

He said: “The best moment, a real honour I got, was after both games the manager came to me and said I think you deserve to keep this, and he gave the pennant that they swap before the games, that was unbelievable.  

“It was unbelievable, it is your wildest dream as a kid to play for your country, wearing an England kit, that feeling was different, it felt like a dream, the whole 4 days I was away didn’t feel real.”  

He also described his time at the college, saying:  
“My time at the college was life-changing, I went in just playing local football for local teams, and I came out training with my country by the time I had finished. I was also a national futsal champion, lifting that cup as well.  

“Educationally, the PE teachers I had – Jack, Emma, and Chris – were really amazing, very supportive. I always recommend the college to any year 11 meet at Oathall, because it is an amazing college.”  

To learn more about the Sports & Physical Education courses on offer at the college, click here.