A FOOTBALL team that was created to offer a welcoming and inclusive environment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other conditions played its first ever match last Saturday.
Ajay Chapman is an 11-year-old football fan from Dinas Powys with Tics and Tourette’s, and he is currently awaiting an assessment for autism.
When Ajay struggled to find a team that could accommodate him, his older brother Myles, 16, decided to do something about it.
One morning in December, Myles announced to his family that he was going to start his own team. He published a post on social media, and within 24 hours, 13 boys and girls in year-6 had signed up.
The project was taken on by Cadoxton Imps who made the group their under-12 team, and Myles began training them once a week at Pencoedtre Park during the summer, and at Colcot Sports Centre in the winter.
Seven months after the project launched, proud mum Babs explained the positive impact it has already made on the children: “Ajay absolutely loves his football, and he goes to watch Cardiff City with Myles whenever he can.
“He’s always wanted to be part of a football team, but he found it difficult to find a place where he felt he belonged.
“Myles could see how upset his younger brother was, so one morning in December, he told our family he was going to do something about it and start his own team for those who were struggling to find a place at other clubs, for different reasons.
“The reaction he got to his post on social media was incredible. Within 24 hours, a group of 13 players from year-6, boys and girls, had committed to the team.
“It’s not just for children with ASD. There are players with ADHD, some who struggle in social situations, and some who love football but haven’t found a team where they fit in,” she said.
Babs says that there have been many challenges during the last few months, but Ajay is enjoying being part of the team. She said: “This has been a dream come true for Ajay, and it’s helped him in so many ways.
“He’s had to adjust his way of thinking and relating to Myles. When we’re at home, Myles is his brother, but when they’re on the pitch, he’s his coach.”
Cadoxton Imps under-12s have been accepted into the local league structure from the start of the new season, and on Saturday, they will play their first friendly match against a Barry Town United team of the same age group at St Cyres School, which Myles will referee.
The club needs a sponsor
Babs says that the club requires a sponsor to help pay for kit and running costs, and is urging local businesses to help them: “We need somewhere in the region of £500-£800 per year in sponsorship, and this will pay for the kits and the other expenses.
“By sponsoring the team, the business will have their name on the shirts, they’ll receive their own full kit, and they’re welcome to attend matches.
“I’m so proud of Ajay and Myles for the enormous progress they’ve made over the last seven months in setting up this team,” she said.
Any individual or business interested in sponsoring the team is asked to contact Simon Ireland at:
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