Player Story: Deb Neale

Dawlish Goalkeeper, Deb Neale, shares with us her inspiring journey from being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer to representing England in the WFA Kicking Cancer team. In her story of resilience, she highlights her love of the game and how the unwavering support from her teammates meant they were with her every step of the way.

I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2024. It had spread into my lymph nodes and had caused me to become very unwell, to the point I was diagnosed as 'in a moribund state' with the loss of co-ordination, memory and mobility. My parents were told that, if I did survive, I would clearly not be living independently again. Well, my mind had clearly been suffering from the effects of cancer, medication and treatments but

I was always determined to return to my squad of footballers, the Swans at Dawlish Women's Walking Football, and play football again.

I may have been using a Zimmer frame at this point but I never saw myself unable to do my boots once again. My lifelong focus was to win an England cap as a young football mad woman but family, work and life got in the way of that then!

2025, I was ending the long recovery of two major surgeries, 6 months of chemotherapy and 15 sessions of radiotherapy. I was supported by every member of my super Swans, Cygnets and Fedglings from Dawlish Women's Walking Football. 

I started back playing and soon felt strong enough to trial for the new and world's first England Women's Kicking Cancer Squad.

Probably the toughest team ever! Comprising of women who have, are recovering from, or in remission of cancer. I trialed for the position of Goalkeeper. Thankfully, my previous 45 years of goalkeeping experience, had put me in a brave position...

As luck would have it, l've now been training with England's finest, and world champion ballers. That cap, can't be far off now!? My message to all women out there is to...Feel the fear and do it anyway. Trust the process, and be kind to yourself. We can, always as a team, find the power to succeed.

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