Backing Thomas Atkinson on the World Stage
Japanese Knotweed Agency is proud to sponsor Thomas Atkinson, goalkeeper for the England Amputee Football Association, as he represents his country and prepares for the biggest stage in amputee football.
Meet Thomas Atkinson
Thomas Atkinson is a goalkeeper representing England through the England Amputee Football Association and is part of a group of athletes competing at the highest level of amputee football.
JKWA is proud to be supporting Thomas through a 12-month individual sponsorship as he continues his international football journey.
Behind every international appearance are the training sessions, travelling, preparation, commitment and personal sacrifices required to compete for your country. Our sponsorship is intended to play a small part in helping Thomas continue that journey.
- Goalkeeper for the England Amputee Football Association
- Reigning Nations League champions with England
- Named Best Goalkeeper at the 2023 Nations League
- Part of England's squad leadership group
- Preparing for the amputee football World Cup
Thomas’s Journey
Discovering Amputee Football
Introduced to the EAFA pathway as a youngster, Thomas found belonging and purpose on the pitch despite the challenges of growing up as an amputee.
Rising Through the Ranks
Natural athleticism and determination marked him out. He committed to demanding EAFA training camps, honing the reflexes that became his trademark.
Senior Squad Call-Up
Earned his senior England call-up while still in his teens — a rapid progression highlighting exceptional shot-stopping and maturity.
Best Goalkeeper — Nations League
Named Best Goalkeeper during England's Nations League victory, cementing his reputation as one of the amputee game's most dependable shot-stoppers.
Nations League Champions
England hold the title, with Thomas a commanding presence between the posts throughout the campaign.
Leadership Role
Now a key leadership figure, Thomas mentors newer players and helps guide the next generation of amputee footballers.
World Cup — Mexico
The biggest stage in amputee football arrives later this year — the culmination of a journey Thomas has been on with EAFA since childhood.
Playing at the World Cup is the biggest thing you can ever do. It’s the one that every single player wants to say they’ve played in and won.
Thomas Atkinson
Speaking to the EAFA ahead of the World Cup in Mexico
The Game Behind the Badge
Amputee football is a fiercely competitive, physically demanding sport played by athletes with amputations and limb differences. It shares the same spirit, passion and intensity as the mainstream game, but with adaptations that make it accessible to players with a wide range of physical differences.
For many visitors, this page may be their first encounter with amputee football. Understanding the sport helps explain why representing England at international level is such a significant achievement — and why sponsorship and support genuinely matter.
THE GAME
Amputee football is an adapted version of the game played by athletes with amputations or limb differences. It is played on a smaller pitch with reduced player numbers per side.
THE PLAYERS
Outfield players use forearm crutches to play. Goalkeepers operate under a separate classification. The sport demands extraordinary balance, strength and coordination.
ENGLAND
England field national teams through the EAFA, competing internationally against nations from across the world.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
The amputee football World Cup and Nations League are the sport's premier international competitions. England compete against both self-funded and professionally supported national programmes.
Representing Your Country Takes More Than Talent
Amputee football does not necessarily have the financial resources associated with mainstream professional football. International-level players still have commitments involving training, equipment, travel and competition.
That is why individual and corporate sponsorship can make a genuine difference.
JKWA’s sponsorship of Thomas helps support his football journey. The partnership is designed to contribute to the ongoing costs and commitments involved in representing England at international level.
Why Thomas?
At first glance, Japanese Knotweed management and international amputee football might not appear to have much in common. But the qualities required to succeed are remarkably familiar.
RESILIENCE
Progress rarely happens overnight.
COMMITMENT
Turning up and doing the work consistently matters.
PROFESSIONALISM
How you represent yourself matters as much as the result.
NEVER STANDING STILL
There is always another challenge and another opportunity to improve.
Those are values we recognise in Thomas, and they are values we want JKWA to be associated with.
The Road to the World Cup
TOURNAMENT
Amputee Football World Cup
HOST
Mexico
DATES
2026 — dates to be confirmed
THOMAS
England Goalkeeper
World Cup Updates
Throughout the World Cup campaign, this section will feature squad announcements, training updates, travel diaries, match previews, results and behind-the-scenes content from Thomas and the England squad.
WORLD CUP CONTENT COMING SOON
Wearing the Badge With Pride
As part of our sponsorship, Japanese Knotweed Agency branding features on Thomas’s England training kit, putting the JKWA name alongside a player representing his country on the international stage.
More photos coming soon
This gallery will grow throughout the 12-month sponsorship
Hear From Thomas
Throughout the sponsorship, we’ll be sharing video content from Thomas — covering his football journey, England camps, training, World Cup preparation and messages from tournaments.
THOMAS × JKWA
VIDEO COMING SOON
Latest From Thomas
Brainz Magazine
JKWA and Thomas Atkinson: A Year of Innovation and Impact
How Japanese Knotweed Agency's sponsorship of Thomas represents shared values, chemical-free innovation and a commitment to raising standards.
READ ARTICLE
England Amputee FA
Playing at the World Cup is the Biggest Thing You Can Ever Do
Thomas speaks to the EAFA ahead of the World Cup in Mexico about leadership, tournament pedigree and what the World Cup means to him.
READ ARTICLE
BBC News
Amputee Goalkeeper Defies Odds to Bring Team to Victory
BBC News covers Thomas Atkinson's journey from childhood adversity to international football, defying medical expectations.
READ ARTICLESupporting England Amputee Football
The England Amputee Football Association is the national governing body for amputee football in England, running the men’s and women’s national teams that compete on the world stage — including the Nations League and the World Cup.
Funding was cut in 2006
FA funding for amputee football was withdrawn in 2006. Since then, England’s amputee footballers have funded their own international careers — paying to play and self-funding travel to tournaments — while many rival nations field full-time professional players.
More Than Our Name on a Shirt
For JKWA, sponsorship should mean more than putting a logo on somebody’s kit. We want to follow Thomas’s journey, celebrate his achievements, help tell the story of amputee football to a wider audience and use our platform to give additional visibility to the people representing England in the sport.
We’re proud to have Thomas representing JKWA — and even prouder to be backing him while he represents England.
Good luck, Thomas. We’re behind you all the way.
Follow the Journey
This is just the beginning. Follow Thomas and JKWA as we share his progress throughout the sponsorship and towards the biggest competitions in amputee football.
Follow Thomas’s Journey
We’ll be following Thomas throughout the sponsorship — from England camps and training sessions to international competition and the World Cup journey.
Instagram
@aki_gk — 26.5K followers
X (Twitter)
Follow Thomas on X
Facebook
EAFA updates featuring Thomas
YouTube
England Amputee FA highlights