The amputee women’s football team is preparing for the first ever World Cup

The team has received a lot of attention since appearing on BBC Breakfast, helping more people become aware of the sport.

“The general reaction is that people are surprised at how physical and skilled the sport is,” Smith said.

“People think it’s very slow and not skilled. Then they see the sport and think, wow, look how skilled it is, how great the players are, how strong they are.”

The team consists of players from all walks of life, some of whom were amputees due to cancer or accidents, while others were born with limb defects.

“We have girls from all walks of life and when they come together you get a huge sense of relatability between the girls,” the 28-year-old said.

“That person understands what he or she has been through and there is an enormous sense of solidarity in the group.

“You really feel that family atmosphere when you walk into the training room, the girls really care about each other.

“The past is in the past and they are only focusing on where they are now and the great opportunities that lie ahead. They are a great group and we are a family.”