AN ANDOVER teenager who is representing England in Powerchair football was excited to meet Prince William and England men’s football team manager Gareth Southgate last week.
Tom Kelly, 19, of St Swithin Way in Andover, was at St George’s Park, the English Football Association's national football centre, for its 10th anniversary.
The event was attended by Prince William, the Prince of Wales, who is the president of the Football Association.
Tom was playing in a match showcasing Powerchair football as part of the England development team.
READ MORE: Andover teenager selected to represent England in Powerchair football at Home Nations Cup
Afterward, he said: “Prince William spent time talking to the team and showed a lot of interest in the sport and commented on how difficult it looked to play.”
Gareth Southgate was also in attendance at the event. He also took pictures with the Powerchair footballers who were all excited to meet the man who is taking England to the World Cup in Qatar in just a few weeks’ time.
Tom plays nationally for Aspire PFC, based in St Albans. They are one of the top teams in the country.
He was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a life-limiting muscle-wasting condition, just before he turned six.
By the time he was 10, he decided that he needed to use a wheelchair full time as he was falling more frequently and getting tired easily.
At this stage, he had to change schools to a more accessible one that could cater to his wheelchair, and his changing physical needs.
Tom started school at Hatherden and then attended Anton Juniors and Kings in Winchester before moving to Barton Peveril College.
His mum Sam Kelly said Tom took up Powerchair football after it was recommended by the parents of another child who had the same condition.
Aspire PFC are a charity and are always looking for sponsors. This year, one of their sponsors is GreenBrokers Limited, an Andover company based on Walworth Industrial Estate, that sells artificial plants, trees, flowers and bulbs etc.
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If you know anyone that would be interested in playing Powerchair football or would like to donate to or sponsor the team, please see contact details on the website at aspirepowerchairsportsclub.org.
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