Male and Female Disability Players of the Season

Gemma Hunter and Gary Spotswood were named Everton’s Disability Players of the Season at the Club’s 6th Annual Awards night.

Both Gemma and Gary are hearing impaired and are set to represent their countries at European Deaf Championships this summer.

Gemma, 23, is a midfield player and will represent the GB Women’s team in Bulgaria.

She has been involved in Everton in the Community’s deaf football programme for six years, who she also represents as a volunteer.

Gemma, from Norris Green, also works as a youth worker with the Merseyside Society for Deaf People (MSDP).

Her coach, Scott Black, said: “Gemma is so busy I don’t know how she fits it all in. But she has worked really hard to improve as a player and also to get her fitness levels up to a really high standard. She is really determined and fully deserves both this award and her GB call up.”

Gary is known as the best deaf goalkeeper in the country and heads to the Men’s Euros in Denmark this July as a seasoned international.

He has also been involved with the programme for six years and is one of the most familiar faces around the team.

Black added: “Gary is a really physically fit lad. He is a big, strong boy and as well as being acknowledged as the best deaf keeper in the country, he is also a very good midfield player or striker.

“He is a real character, a very funny lad, but he has been known to have a moan at one or two of his teammates in the past!

“Again he is a really determined guy and a very worthy winner of this award."

The Male & Female Disability Awards were sponsored by Lookers.

For full coverage and plenty of reaction from tonight's awards. click here.