Two sisters are hoping to scare the opposition into submission at the first European Deaf Football Championships.

Roanna and Corinna Simmons from Brighton will be flying the flag for Great Britain at the tournament in Bulgaria.

Roanna, 24, is a no-nonsense defender and her sister a tough-tackling midfielder for the team, although they both also weigh-in with their share of goals.

The pair are the only siblings in the British squad and hope their sister act will inspire the team to glory.

Corinna, 26, said: "People are scared of us. When we go to football tournaments people are frightened of the Simmons sisters.

"On the pitch we play to win. But we are completely different off the pitch."

Roanna agreed: "We have a real competitive streak on the pitch. But we're not dirty."

The rules of deaf football are much the same as in conventional soccer, although the referee has a flag instead of a whistle.

Competitors must have a level of hearing which falls below a certain standard and hearing aids are banned from the field of play.

The tournament will be held in Sofia from November 10 to 16 with Great Britain facing group matches against Norway, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany. The girls said the toughest opponents were likely to be Italy and Norway.

Roanna said: "We are quite nervous because we don't really know what sort of standard the opponents will be."

The pair said the British Deaf Sports Council has trouble securing funding so, unlike the Michael Owens and David Beckhams of the English team at the World Cup, they are having to pay their own way out there.

At the weekend, the sisters held a mini-triathlon to raise the £500 each they need for flights and accommodation.

Both sisters represent Brighton and Hove in the deaf women's national league and they have reached international standard just a few years after taking up the sport.

Corinna said: "Both of us have been quite natural at sport but, for me personally, football is very new. It's a challenge for me to take it to another level and it's a privilege."

The sisters' parents are both deaf, although they have an older sister who is hearing. Sporting prowess runs through the family and their father was also a keen footballer in his day.

Corinna added: "Hopefully our parents will come. it is not often you get the chance to see two daughters representing Great Britain."