Football has a kind of sign language. Much of it is gleefully designed to offend referees and opposing players. On a pitch at Gillford Park in Carlisle, sign language is essential for things as basic as when to stop playing because the referee has spotted a foul.

The young men warming up here look much like any other amateur team: the usual mix of physiques and Premier League shirts.

Hearing aids around some of their ears are the only obvious sign that this is a training session for Carlisle City Deaf FC.

The idea of a deaf team in Carlisle was suggested in February by Thomas Rhodes, an A Level student at Lime House School, near Dalston.

The fourth Sunday afternoon training session has attracted 14 players, the biggest turnout yet.

Thomas is deaf but a cochlear implant in his right ear allows some hearing. He has played for hearing and deaf teams. Until recently he played for Sunderland Deaf AFC but tired of the travelling.

Thomas has encountered problems in hearing teams. “I find it difficult to communicate and work as a team because the other players are shouting for the ball or telling me to move. I can’t hear them so I have to look around a lot to see the players’ lips to understand what they are saying.

“This is the same for communicating with the coach at the side of the pitch. They wave at me and tell me instructions. It’s hard for me to understand when I am on another side of the pitch, watching his lips is almost impossible for me.

“I found it easier when I joined Sunderland Deaf AFC because the coaches understand how to communicate by using a lot of hand actions and demonstrating what to do in training and matches. This has improved me as a player and in confidence when it’s come to matches.”

Thomas used Twitter to ask if other players would be interested in a Cumbrian deaf team. His request was retweeted by several professional players and clubs.

Carlisle City FC offered their training pitch, their name, and one of their coaches.

John Duncan has also worked with Gretna and Queen of the South.

Coaching players who cannot hear him is a new challenge.

“It’s completely different,” he says. “I’ve got to have more diagrams, and writing with the diagrams. If I’m demonstrating something I make sure they can see me for lip reading.

“I enjoy the challenge of it. I’ve got to get them to understand what I want.”

The deaf football season starts in September. Carlisle City will play in the England Deaf Football League’s northern division, against clubs including Sunderland and Everton.

Some of the players here have travelled from west Cumbria. There are even two from Newcastle.

There are students and people in work. All have at least two things in common. Hearing problems, and love of football.

“We need to learn how to play as a team,” says Thomas. “Look up. Remember the plans. It’s a hard challenge.”

A handful of spectators stand on the sidelines. Ben Fontana, 14, is watched by his parents Tony and Sue. Little brother Liam, 12, is also taking part in the session.

Ben has 40 per cent hearing, which is boosted with hearing aids. “A lot of teams won’t take him because of his hearing,” says Tony.

“We struggle to get kids like this in proper teams,” says Sue. “If you’re in a normal team and they say ‘pass it’ there’d be no response.

“We didn’t know whether he’d enjoy all the stretching and running around. But he couldn’t wait to come back this week.”

Tony adds: “He was shattered after the first session here. There’s no special treatment from John.”

After a warm-up John gathers his squad together and lays a diagram on the grass.

He talks through his plan for the session then asks “Does everybody get that?”

They nod. The players don bibs: half of them in yellow, the rest in orange.

John takes them through the fundamentals of passing the ball then moving into space to receive it back.

Some take to it more easily than others. Is this because they are better footballers or because they can hear better?

Maybe it depends on whether John is facing them when he issues instructions. Many of these lads can lip-read. But it’s impossible for John to face everyone all the time while standing in the middle of the pitch.

“It will improve as they keep practicing,” he says. “We’ll get there. It’s experimental. Trying things. See what works and what doesn’t.”

During deaf matches the referee waves a flag to stop play. John shouts “Hold it there!” with his hand in the air. Sometimes it takes a few seconds for everyone to stop.

In other respects this seems like normal football with players shouting encouragement, or sniggering at team-mates when they get something wrong.

It becomes easy to forget the challenges facing these young men. Some are also partially sighted. At least one is unable to distinguish between yellow and orange, which must be awkward bearing in mind today’s colours.

“I’m desperate to get some blue bibs,” says John. “And they’re desperate to play football.”

The spectators include David Annette, a teacher in Trinity School’s learning support department.

David is here to support some of his students. Four of his current pupils and two former ones are playing.

Trinity holds after-school football sessions for students with hearing or visual impairment, autism and learning difficulties.

“It’s a great way of confidence building, teamwork etc, for any young person,” says David.

He gestures at the lads on the pitch in front of him. “This is great for deaf footballers. I imagine life can be a bit frustrating at times.”

Behind the training ground wall a motorbike buzzes like a mosquito, unheard by many here.

The session is ending with a match. The best players include Billy Hanlon, an engineering student at Lakes College in Workington who used to play for Whitehaven Amateurs.

His success at scoring is not matched by everyone. Ben Fontana’s parents round up stray balls which have been hoofed and sliced high and wide.

Thomas, polite and friendly off the pitch, crunches into tackles.

Jamie Dixon, one of David Annette’s pupils, scores a tap-in. “That’s going to make his day,” smiles David. “And tomorrow.”

After two hours the session ends. At 31 Jayson Kiggins from Whitehaven is the oldest player here. He used to play for St Bees, a hearing team.

He was a goalkeeper then. A heavy defeat affected his confidence and he stopped playing, other than five-a-side.

“I probably haven’t played 11-a-side since I was 20,” he says.

“This is quality training. I think it’s going to give the young lads confidence.”

Thomas adds: “It’s not just about football. It’s about meeting new people and trying to achieve something.”

The club has been helped with equipment by sponsors, and by its parent club.

Carlisle City chairman Brian Hall says: “Their club is very much part of ours. They have the same badge.”

That badge carries Carlisle City’s motto. It seems very appropriate for these men. ‘Pro Amore Ludum’ – for the love of the game.

For more information follow @CCDeafFC on Twitter or email cumbriadeaffootballclub@aim.com