# @premierleague on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DMcabnFRDNZ
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/32596085-premierleague-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/d3d1e335d2.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-07-23T08:41:07.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Premier League (@premierleague) — https://gondola.cc/premierleague

## Caption

I have got one neurodiverse child and one with physical conditions, and I remember very vividly when my son was asked to leave a team because the coaches couldn't support his needs. I can say with integrity, ‘This is the reason why, I'm speaking from lived experience,’ it makes the whole thing more real.

Three years ago, my husband had a kidney transplant and left work while he was recovering, and my daughter has medical conditions, so she was poorly. I was working for a children’s charity but I physically couldn't do it when I was caring for my family. Boldmere approached me and said we've got a few hours and it just snowballed.

When our family needed things, it was friends and people at the club that stepped up, we felt part of the family. There's a huge social need for facilities for children and young people.

If you are privileged to have had a lifestyle where you're not aware of the need for these facilities, it's hard to consider why they would be useful or who would benefit from them. I'm privileged to have the children that I've got, because they've changed my whole outlook on parenting and life. The term football is accessible for all, but is it really?

When we looked at what we needed, we did speak to children. It was the piano for me because that's my son’s saving grace, he's taught himself to play. We always say to the kids on the pitch about decision making, being creative. This is where you can do that. We had our 140-year celebrations and officially opened the Youth Zone. It was a really emotional evening - home isn't a place, it's a feeling.

Children here with additional needs play in mainstream teams, especially at holiday camps. We've noticed a 20% increase in children with additional needs attending camps, children that perhaps thought they never would step onto a football pitch, let alone have a facility like this. That's a real privilege.

We’re lucky to have proactive directors and volunteers here. There were a lot of people putting trust into the idea, and it's turned into something we're really proud of.

Carly Cartwright, Commercial Manager, Boldmere St Michael’s FC

#PLMoreThanAGame

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