My father was a deaf footballer and I have epilepsy, but I scored against Man Utd
A football star who has epilepsy and whose father represented the Great Britain deaf team has just secured a dream transfer that could see him take on Lionel Messi.
And he will aim to beat the Argentine superstar, just as he did with the icon's great rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Matt Crooks, 30, was yesterday unveiled as the new signing of MLS side Real Salt Lake, after joining them from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee.
The 6ft 1in midfielder leaves Riverside as a firm fan favorite after his two-and-a-half years at the Riverside.
He played 115 games for Boro and scored 23 times, including a famous goal against Manchester United.
The Leeds-born ace grew up supporting the Red Devils, but his equalizer in the FA Cup at Old Trafford secured a fourth-round draw with Boro winning 8-7 after Ronaldo had earlier missed a penalty. .
Crooks wrote an emotional farewell after his departure was confirmed, saying: “Just six months ago I described this place as my home and it will remain so. But life is short and we can only try once, and having the opportunity to experience football and life in another country with my family was one I was eager to take on.
“There were different challenges and many positions under each manager, but they all gave me memories that I will certainly look back on with great pleasure. Reading at home, United away, Spurs at home, Chelsea at home. Fantastic.
“Good luck to everyone involved with the club for the rest of this season. I'm sure the boys and staff will give it their all until the season ends.”
He has played in a variety of positions under different managers at Middlesbrough, but he is looking forward to being deployed as a No. 10 in America – and facing one of the greatest ever in that position too.
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Crooks said: “MLS is getting a bigger name and a better reputation.
“Obviously with people like Messi and whatever else you come across, the sport here has really improved. I'm just looking forward to it.
“I wouldn't say I'm a Salt Lake or RSL professor yet, but I'm looking forward to learning more. That's what I come for.
“I think my role will be that of the 10s. I think you'd like me to play that 10 role.
Crooks' journey to America has been incredible both off and on the field.
As a player he started at Huddersfield Town before spells before Boro at Halifax, Hartlepool, Accrington, Rangers, Scunthorpe, Northampton and Rotherham.
Off the field, the popular player with epilepsy overcame the loss of an old football friend and grew up in a family where both his parents were deaf.
Speaking earlier BBChe said: “My father is proud to be deaf, my mother is proud to be deaf, but in a way I think the same about epilepsy.
“It is a dangerous condition and can have serious consequences, but it is part of me and who I am, so I have to embrace it and not live in fear of something happening.”
He is not the only member of his family with an impressive sports career.
His father Dave Great Britain played football at four Olympic Games for the Deaf, amassing a collection of one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
Crooks said: “My dad never forgets to remind me.
“He did a good job of making the best of what he had, even though it held him back in other parts of his life, he still made sure sport was a big part of his life and that's something I get from him.
“It's classed as a disability but I've never looked at them and thought they're disabled, they're just deaf and it's a different world to the hearing world. It's not something to look down on.”
Crooks is also involved with two charities: the Peter Doody Foundation – which aims to normalize epilepsy – and the Jordan Sinnott Foundation Trust – where he is vice-chairman and trustee, in honor of his late ex-Huddersfield team-mate.
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