THERE was a warm homecoming for GB Deaf football team manager Phillip Gardner. The Letchworth GC man saw his talented side beat their Swedish counterparts 5-0 at the County Ground in Letchworth on Saturday afternoon. The 2005 Deaflympics champions kicked

THERE was a warm homecoming for GB Deaf football team manager Phillip Gardner.

The Letchworth GC man saw his talented side beat their Swedish counterparts 5-0 at the County Ground in Letchworth on Saturday afternoon.

The 2005 Deaflympics champions kicked off their European campaign in style in their first leg qualifier.

More than 300 supporters saw goals from Steven Gardiner, Lee Farrell, Alistair Dalziel, stand-in captain Chris Beech and sub Daniel Ailey.

The second leg is in Malmo, Sweden, on May 27. The winner of this two-legged qualifier will take part in the sixth European Championships for the Deaf in Portugal in June 2007.