Communities

Chase living his dream with Brighton

2 May 2018

How Albion in the Community and the PL/BT Disability Fund is helping a nine-year-old play the game he loves

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This is Chase Wells from Brighton.

Like a lot of nine-year-olds, Chase has always dreamt of being a footballer.

But Chase has cerebral palsy and found it a challenge to play the game he loves.

"We were told when Chase was 18 months old that he may never walk," says Chase's mum Candice. "For us as a family, that was totally world-crushing.

"Cerebral palsy is mainly to do with muscle tone, so his bone will grow quicker than the muscle. He'd be falling over a lot, he'd be in pain."

Opportunity and encouragement to play football came from Brighton's Albion in the Community (AitC).

Chase started attending CP football sessions run by AitC and made possible by the Premier League/BT Disability programme.

Playing regular football has helped Chase's physical development and he is now able to play without a frame.

Chase and Solly March, Albion in the Community
Chase recently showed off his skills to Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Solly March

"Being able to come here weekly and see that there are other children with a disability, it's given him that hope, to be a better him," Candice says.

"The important thing is exercise and fitness and then that will help to stretch those muscles, to walk without the abnormal gait."

And for the passionate Brighton fan, the chance to represent his club means the world.

"I'll play for any team really, now I've bumped into my dream team," he says.

Chase has been guided and inspired by Kieran Green, a CP footballer who joined Albion in the Community as a participant and is now a qualified coach.

And with the help of Kieran's support, Chase has been invited to the England Talent Hub which could eventually lead to him representing his country.

"I train, day in and day out, every single day, non-stop," Chase says. "It feels like the best dream I could possibly have.

"I'm not letting myself be ill, I'm just going for it."

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