A deaf football team ended a catastrophic season on minus six points - because they could not hear the referee’s whistle.

Perry Barr-based Birmingham Deaf FC’s sequence of shocking results were among the worst in the Birmingham AFA Saturday League’s history.

They lost all but one of their 26 fixtures, shipped 164 goals and ended bottom of division five.

The squad couldn’t hear the referee’s commands - and claimed their pleas for flags to be used instead fell on deaf ears.

Club secretary Guy Whieldon, who is deaf, said: "Most lads feel officials are not geared-up for a deaf team due to communication breakdowns, which cause difficulty.

"The referees are supposed to wave flags while, at the same time, blowing a whistle.

"Most referees forget to wave or simply don’t want to use a flag."

A player from Sutton United, who beat BDFC 10-0 home and away, told the Mail that difficulties were apparent from the first whistle.

"The ref would blow for a stoppage and they would continue to play," he said.

BDFC, based at Birmingham City University’s Moor Lane pitches in Perry Barr, were deducted nine points for failing to turn up for three games.

And their showing during the season was so poor, they look set to be relegated TWO tiers to the league’s basement, division seven.

The weekly drubbings included a 15-0 defeat to Walsall All Stars.