Samantha Gough, MBE, is a member of a very exclusive “club” and not just because she was named in the latest King’s Birthday Honours.
For visually impaired Sam, 23, from Lasswade but with strong links to Edinburgh, has the rare distinction of being a native born Scot to captain an English national team – in this case blind football.
Extensive research suggests the only other Scot given such responsibility is believed to be cricketer Mike Denness in the 1970s.
But why is Samantha even playing for England?
The answer is simple; Scotland don’t have a blind football team and, well, needs must to pursue sporting dreams!
Adding spice to her appointment is the fact it was only a few years ago she believed her sporting ambitions were over having been born with cerebral visual impairment (CVI).
Sam’s condition means that while her eyes are healthy her brain cannot fully process visual information.
Her sight deteriorated significantly in 2014, requiring her to re-learn essential life skills, including mobility and independent navigation.
And this is where the Scottish link strengthens further for the England captain as she describes attending Sight Scotland’s Royal Blind School in Edinburgh as a real turning point in her life.
Says Sam: “This (MBE) is a huge honour. I want to use it to highlight blind football and visually impaired sport, and to show others what can be achieved if you follow your dreams.
“I have struggled with my mental health and sport truly saved me, so I am determined to show others what is possible.
“It wasn’t very long ago that I didn’t think I could take part in sport at all. I went from being registered partially sighted to severely sight impaired and was basically excluded from all sport. Instead of asking how they could support me, I was seen as a problem. If you had told me then what I’d be doing now, I would never have believed you. It shows what can be achieved if you are given the right support.
“The Royal Blind School was a real turning point for me. I was given tailored support and the opportunity to learn vital independent living skills, which really helped rebuild my confidence. It also helped me accept myself and my disability, which was such an important part of my journey. Before I came to the school, I did not fully understand my visual impairment or how to explain it.
“Learning braille was another huge moment for me. I had lost the ability to read and write as my sight deteriorated, and braille helped me reconnect with that. It felt like I had found a part of myself again. The school also helped me develop everyday skills like cooking, going to the shops, and speaking up about the support I need. They also showed me how to use my white cane, which was a complete game changer. I then got my wonderful guide dog, Helga, last year, which again transformed my life and gave me even more confidence to get out and about.
“All the amazing things that have happened to me through sport and my advocacy work would not have been possible without the incredible teachers at the Royal Blind School. They believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself and gave me the skills and confidence to move forward. It quite literally changed my life.
In 2022, Sam made history as the first-ever captain of the England Women’s Blind Football team, a landmark achievement that established her as a pioneer of the women’s game. She went on to lead the national side at the inaugural IBSA Women’s World Championships in 2023, guiding England in their first appearance on the global stage and helping to mark a defining moment for the sport.
Her success extends beyond football. In goalball, she became one of the UK’s top female goal scorers and represented Great Britain at the 2022 European Para Youth Games, where she secured a bronze medal.
In rowing, she claimed gold at the 2023 British Rowing Indoor Championships and was selected for the Great Britain Para Rowing performance pathway.
Beyond her sporting success, Sam has also been recognised for her advocacy work. In 2023, she won a Midlothian Young People’s Award and was also commended in the UK Parliament for her achievements. She is also an ambassador for Sight Scotland, using her platform to promote inclusion and inspire others with disabilities to take part in sport.
