Matt Crooks: Middlesbrough forward on epilepsy and raising money in friend's memory

Matt Crooks is a popular figure at Middlesbrough, scoring some important and memorable goals since arriving

Middlesbrough forward Matt Crooks has been on a journey during his career to get to Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Premier League side Chelsea.

Not just in terms of his literal journey, which has taken in such varied locations as Huddersfield, Halifax, Hartlepool, Accrington, Rangers, Scunthorpe, Northampton and Rotherham.

Away from the highly competitive, dog-eat-dog world of professional football, the 29-year-old has lived his adult life with epilepsy, lost a long-time footballing friend, and grown up in a family with deaf parents and other deaf relatives.

This is not your average sportsperson.

Football and epilepsy

Crooks was diagnosed with epilepsy aged 18, right when his journey to becoming a professional was blossoming at Huddersfield Town.

Dealing with the news, the uncertainty about what it meant for his football aspirations, and the condition itself were all things to be conquered.

"It's something that I got, not the way I am," Crooks told BBC Radio 5 Live. "My dad is proud to be deaf, my mum is proud to be deaf, but I'm the same way about epilepsy in a way.

"It's a dangerous condition and can have serious consequences, but it's part of me and part of who I am so I should embrace it and not live in fear of something happening."

One seizure which happened during his time at Huddersfield sticks in the memory, and he recalls former team-mate Jonathan Hogg describing it as "the scariest moment of my life".

Medication has helped maintain his health since, while he has also been able to pass on his experience to other footballers in a similar position.

"If people ask me about it, then I'll answer the questions and if there are any doubts I'll speak to the manager about it," Crooks added.

"Every club I've been at, they've not had too many worries about epilepsy and they just take me for who I am.

"I've spoken to other players in the past, there was a young player at West Ham who had epilepsy and he'd just found out and wanted someone to speak to.

"It's nice to have someone to lean on when you're in that position."

Keeping the memory alive

Jordan Sinnott's death brought an outpouring of tributes, including at former club Huddersfield

Jordan Sinnott became a close friend to Crooks when the pair met, having turned up at Huddersfield for a trial - the "fat kid" who took him by surprise when he did not misplace a pass during their drills.

Although the pair went their separate ways on the field, off it they remained close and Sinnott's tragic death in January 2020 was tough on family, and friends like Crooks.

The lasting legacy has been the establishing of a foundation which has raised more than £100,000 since it was made an an official charity, and helped underprivileged children take part in sport.

"We didn't want to just solely focus on football," Crooks said. "We want to broaden it [the foundation] out to different things - the harder it is for some sports like sailing, it's more difficult to access things they need.

"There was a power wheelchair which was a big one for us with the disabled community, helping out a football team that accepts disabled people. We want to help everyone.

"I want it to be as big as possible, and I think when I finish playing it will be easier to do some bigger challenges and look at someone like Kevin Sinfield and the stuff he does, I'd love to be able to do something like that."

Inspiration from parents

The Crooks family already had sporting pedigree before Matt made the grade in professional football, as his father Dave had represented Great Britain in football at four deaf Olympics - winning gold, silver and bronze medals.

"My dad doesn't forget to remind me about it," Crooks added.

"He did a good job of making the most of what he had, even if it held him back in other parts of his life, he still made sure sport was a big part of his life and that's something I get from him.

"It's classed as a disability, but I've never looked at it and thought they're disabled, they're just deaf and it's a different world to the hearing world.

"It's not something to be looked down on."

Dreams of Wembley

On the pitch, Crooks has proved a popular figure on Teesside since his move from Rotherham United in 2021, moving between midfield and further forward in a variety of roles.

He has scored some important and memorable goals - including an FA Cup winner against boyhood club Manchester United at Old Trafford, where he had once been a scholar.

It was a run which took Boro past Tottenham too, only to be denied a semi-final and Wembley trip by defeat against Tuesday's opponents Chelsea.

Crooks, a Manchester United fan who was part of the youth set-up, scored at Old Trafford with Middlesbrough in the FA Cup

Their rise to the Carabao Cup last four this season has been a little less eventful, as Huddersfield, Bolton, Exeter and Port Vale have all been beaten away from home.

"Three games to winning a major trophy is how we've got to see it," Crooks continued.

"Now we're in a semi final against Chelsea, we've got a chance. We've seen in the FA Cup, with the run where we beat Manchester United and Tottenham, that anything is possible. We have to go in with that mindset."

Middlesbrough's Matt Crooks was speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Steve Crossman