How Blind Football Captain Samantha Gough Earned An MBE

When Samantha Gough receives her MBE as part of the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours, she won’t just be celebrating a personal achievement. She’ll be shining a spotlight on the power of inclusion, resilience, and the life-changing impact of the right support.
At just 23 years old, Samantha has already established herself as one of Britain’s most accomplished visually impaired athletes. As the first-ever captain of the England Women’s Blind Football team, a national goalball player, a para-rowing champion, and an advocate for the visually impaired community, her story is one of determination against extraordinary odds.
A Journey Marked by Challenge
Born with cerebral visual impairment (CVI), Samantha’s eyes are healthy, but her brain struggles to process visual information effectively. In 2014, her sight deteriorated significantly, forcing her to relearn many everyday skills that most people take for granted.
The transition was difficult. As her vision worsened, opportunities in sport began to disappear.
“It wasn’t very long ago that I didn’t think I could take part in sport at all,” Samantha reflects. “I went from being registered partially sighted to severely sight impaired and was basically excluded from all sport. Instead of asking how they could support me, I was seen as a problem.”
For many young people, such experiences could have marked the end of their sporting ambitions. For Samantha, however, they became the beginning of a remarkable new chapter.
The Turning Point
That chapter began at Sight Scotland’s Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.
Samantha describes attending the school as a turning point that transformed her confidence, independence, and outlook on life.
“The Royal Blind School was a real turning point for me,” she says. “I was given tailored support and the opportunity to learn vital independent living skills, which really helped rebuild my confidence. It also helped me accept myself and my disability, which was such an important part of my journey.”
The support extended far beyond the classroom. Samantha learned braille after losing the ability to read and write as her sight deteriorated. She developed practical skills such as cooking, shopping independently, and advocating for the support she needed.
Learning to use a white cane proved particularly transformative, helping her navigate the world with greater confidence. More recently, her guide dog, Helga, has provided even more independence and freedom.
“All the amazing things that have happened to me through sport and my advocacy work would not have been possible without the incredible teachers at the Royal Blind School,” she says. “They believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself and gave me the skills and confidence to move forward. It quite literally changed my life.”
Making History in Sport
Armed with renewed confidence and determination, Samantha went on to break new ground in British sport.
In 2022, she became the first-ever captain of the England Women’s Blind Football team, helping to shape the future of a rapidly growing sport. The following year, she led England at the inaugural IBSA Women’s World Championships, marking the team’s first appearance on the world stage.
Her achievements are not limited to football.
As a goalball athlete, Samantha became one of the UK’s leading female goal scorers and represented Great Britain at the 2022 European Para Youth Games, earning a bronze medal. In rowing, she claimed gold at the 2023 British Rowing Indoor Championships and secured selection to the Great Britain Para Rowing performance pathway.
Using Sport to Drive Change
While Samantha’s sporting accomplishments are impressive, she sees her platform as an opportunity to create wider change.
Having experienced both exclusion and empowerment, she is passionate about raising awareness of visual impairment and increasing access to sport for disabled people.
“I want to use my platform, whether through sport, social media, visiting schools to talk about my disability, or working with organisations like Sight Scotland, to show what is possible and help influence positive change,” she explains.
She is already making a significant impact through her advocacy work. In 2023, she received a Midlothian Young People’s Award, was commended in the UK Parliament for her achievements, and continues to serve as an ambassador for Sight Scotland.
More Than a Personal Achievement
For Samantha, receiving an MBE is about more than recognition for past achievements. It is an opportunity to champion blind football, promote inclusion, and inspire others facing similar challenges.
“I want to use it to highlight blind football and visually impaired sport, and to show others what can be achieved if you follow your dreams,” she says.
Her message is a powerful reminder that talent can flourish when barriers are removed and support is provided.
“There are people who understand and want to help, and it really can make such a difference.”
As Samantha Gough adds an MBE to her growing list of achievements, her story stands as a testament to what can happen when determination meets opportunity—and when society chooses inclusion over limitation.
For young people living with sight loss, her journey offers a clear message: your ambitions do not have to be defined by your disability. With the right support, they can become your greatest strength.
This version is written in a feature-style blog format suitable for a charity website, news section, or corporate blog, with a strong narrative flow and clear headings.