The South Atlantic Falcons

Tristan Hudson, Ascension Island

Tristan Hudson, 26, works as a painter-decorator for the Ascension Island Government. He shares his story of growing up with a hearing impairment whilst playing for a local five-a-side team, the Falcons, on one of the most remote islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the absence of a formal Football Association, football remains an important part of life on the island.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your current football life?

My name is Tristan Hudson and I am 26 years old. I live on Ascension Island, located in the South Atlantic. I work as a painter-decorator for the Ascension Island Government. I was born with a hearing impairment in my right ear and complete hearing loss in my left ear. My hearing is corrected with a hearing aid worn in my right ear.

Football is an important part of my life. Currently I mostly play five-a-side socially with friends twice a week. Because the Island does not currently have a committed Football Association, there are not any regular tournaments. However, there have been a few five-a-side tournaments which I have participated in with a team called Falcons.

What has your football journey been like up until now?

My football journey began on my home island, St Helena, a small island also situated in the South Atlantic, the sister island of Ascension. My interest in football is a reflection of my family. As a toddler I would spend many weekends watching my father playing in the local football tournaments on St Helena.

I started playing at the age of 7 at my local primary school. I then joined the local junior football club training and learning the necessary skills to become a talented player. As young boys, my friends and I would spend most of our time after school playing football at our local playground and on our neighbourhood roads.

As part of the island school custom, at the end of each school year a primary school football competition is held. I played in the team representing my school on the right wing, unfortunately we did not win this competition.

I joined the local youth club, which led to my friends and I entering a team for the junior league five-a-side football tournament. I thoroughly enjoyed this as this gave me the opportunity to use my training and develop my skills both as an individual and as a member of a team. Our team emerged as runners up for both the league and the knockout finals.

As I moved to secondary school my passion for football grew. Inter-house nine-a-side competitions were held and I was selected as captain for my house team. I then played in the local senior league. I played my first senior 11-a-side game when I was 15 years old and the following season played my first full season on the right wing.

I first moved to Ascension at the age of 18. At this time a football committee was in place and I started playing in the local league here. This was all mainstream football. I relocated back to Ascension in 2020, where I have played in some football leagues and socially with friends. I also volunteer as a helper with the youth football club, assisting with training for children aged 7 to 11.

Growing up with a hearing disability was a struggle but when it came to football there was a lot I had to overcome and to learn, as I was the only deaf player in every team I have played for. Playing in mainstream football whilst having that disadvantage meant I had to really work to prove myself and show that despite my hearing problem, I deserved to be a part of the teams. My hearing impairment has never discouraged me but has driven me to love the game more.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

The photos show the Falcons five-a-side team and also players whom I play with socially on weekends. Most of the photos were taken at the Multi Use Games Unit (MUGA) facility at Two Boats Club, and a few at Green Mountain.

MUGA is one of my favourite places to play. We play five-a-side quite regularly here. It is a cage construction and the goals are fairly small, so it does take some accuracy to score, which is good for me because I get to practice my favorite Martinelli bottom corner finish.

Green Mountain is the highest point on Ascension Island and has amazing views of the island. It can be the perfect spot to relax with family or with a football.

I tried to show that even in a small community like we have here on Ascension, football brings the community together. This is highlighted in one photo where we all stood in a circle and held a one minute silence to remember a young keen player who tragically lost his life in a car accident. It shows that in times like this, football has the power to bring the community together for support. Football is not just a game but is part of our character.

Are there any good stories connected with one person you photographed?

Sean Benjamin is a really good friend who I grew up with back on St. Helena. We have always played well with and against each other. We played in the junior league together and briefly for a few senior league games for The Bellboys, as well as with our five-a-side team on Ascension.

He was a brilliant player in the junior league, we had a very good understanding of each other. At that time, I was still learning how to be more confident in myself with my hearing issues. He is one of the players that helped shape me as the player I am today.

What impact has football had on you?

Football has always had a significant impact on me in all aspects of my life. Playing and watching football gave me the motivation to learn the game, improve my skills and to be the best player I can possibly be. I have made some good friendships through football which has helped me massively in my social life as well.

Football has helped me to mature into the person who I am today, irrespective of my hearing ability. Playing my very first game in the junior league and playing alongside my dad, younger brothers, and uncle greatly influenced how I perceive myself and the way I face life's challenges. Football has enabled me to build my confidence, believe in myself, work within a team and to never give up. Just being included in any team just gives me so much joy.

As the only hearing-impaired player, I do find it difficult on the communication side to hear when others are calling for the ball or simply hearing an instruction from another player or coach. Although I do feel I am a lot better at looking up, finding spaces, and being aware of my surroundings during a game!

What role does football play in your community and in Ascension Island?

At the moment, without the existence of a committed Association there are not any regular football tournaments, although when a tournament is organised it is always well-received and great to participate in.

Despite the absence of an Association, football still plays its part on the island. There are youth football clubs that are run by volunteers. Five-a-side tournaments are held in respect of friends or members of the community who have lost their lives and were involved with football on the island; for fund raising; and even in celebration of Ascension Day (marking the discovery of the island).

However, the island is in the process of restarting a sports association, therefore there is hope for more organised football tournaments in the near future.

What ambitions do you have for the future?

Someday I hope that if I visit the UK, I can have the opportunity to participate in a deaf game or training session. All my life I have played mainstream football and I would like to experience football where I do not have that communication barrier.

What is the future for football in Ascension Island? What would you like to change?

Ascension Island is a working island which means that everyone on the island is here to work or to accompany someone who works. As such there is no right of abode. It is possible for individuals to be offered new contracts following the end of a previous contract, so some individuals may have been on the island for significant periods of time. However, when their contract ends for a final time they need to leave the island and return to their place of residence. Therefore football is not a high priority.

I do hope that sometime soon a football or sports association is re-established here on Ascension Island, because at the moment the future for football on Ascension is hard. While it is enjoyed on a social level, it is hard to get tournaments and competitions arranged.