A footballer from Chingford is still more £1,000 shy of his goal of £3,000 to pay his way to the Deaflympics

Ollie Monksfield, who is severely deaf, was selected to play for the GB squad at the Games in Taipei this September, but will have to pay his own way.

After the Government diverted funds from UK Deaf Sports to help pay for the 2012 Olympics, Mr Monksfield needs to raise £3,000 to pay for flights and accommodation himself.

But the 27-year-old, who is also a PE teacher at Heathcote School, Chingford, has so far only raised about £1,600 and has just weeks left to reach his target.

“It's got to come from somewhere,” he said.

“The squad are still going and I've got to pay it.”

Mr Monksfield spoke of being “shattered” in April when he learned there would be no Government funding available.

After the team won gold in Melbourne in 2005, he believed funding would be guaranteed but was told he had to come up the full amount himself.

To support Mr Monksfield, visit justgiving.com/olliemonksfield, or to support the team, visit justgiving.com/footballgb