Swansea City AFC Foundation pan-disability sessions provide Jack with vital football pathway

Swansea City season-ticket holder Jack Owen had always thought he would struggle to play football due to a condition affecting the vision in his left eye, but Swansea City AFC Foundation’s pan-disability sessions opened up a pathway to the game he loves that led to Jack walking out at the Swansea.com Stadium with Charlie Patino.

The lifelong Swans fan, 13, had long been going to games with his grandfather Sid Dalling, but believed football would be mainly a spectator sport rather than one he could participate in.

Jack has coloboma, an eye condition that you are born with, and restricts vision in his left eye due to part of the tissue that makes up the eye being missing.

Due to this, his family had been apprehensive about Jack being involved in football, despite his love for the sport.

But in September, Jack began attending the Foundation’s Premier League Kicks pan-disability sessions and – with the programme open to all abilities and a great starting point for new attendees – became a regular fixture, with Sid bringing him along every week.

“Jack has had a lot of new skills to develop since coming in, but he’s got the fundamentals down to a tee already, such as his social skills and communication skills,” says Lloyd Thomas, Swansea City AFC Foundation’s pan-disability football lead.

“Coming to the sessions was perfect for him, he’s a massive fan of the football club, he’s a season-ticket holder along with his grandfather, so coming to a session run by the Swans Foundation has had a massive impact on him.

“It’s important for us at the Foundation to be inclusive across all of our projects and offer provisions to everyone in our community.

“Jack being able to come onboard with these sessions has given him a bit of a lifeline in football, he hasn’t had the chance to be a part of it before, but due to his love of the club, this is the perfect fit for him.”

Having grown in confidence and increased his football skills over time, Jack has since transitioned to also attend the Premier League Kicks sessions in Gorseinon.

And he spoke about the importance of the opportunity for him to take part in and feel fully part of the game he loves so much.

“I really enjoy playing football,” says Jack.

“It’s definitely something I’ve gotten into these past few months. Due to my eye condition I wasn’t really allowed to play but I finally got to do it and I really enjoy it.

“It has been good attending the pan-disability and Kicks sessions, I love it.

“It is everything I have wanted to have the chance to do, and it’s made a big difference for me.”

Grandfather Sid has been delighted by Jack’s growing enthusiasm and enjoyment of football, and praised the Foundation’s programmes for being inclusive to participants of all abilities.

“He was never really able to get involved before, but this opportunity came along and we thought we would give it a try,” says Sid.

“It was important that ability didn’t matter, whether you were good at football or not.

“He has had to sit back and watch all this time, but now that he has the chance to get involved he’s become really enthusiastic and he’s really enjoying it. It’s really nice to see him getting this chance.”

Jack recently attended the Foundation’s anti-bullying week workshop at a Premier League Kicks session in October, which saw first-team stars Bashir Humphreys and Patino also in attendance.

During the visit, Jack and Sid spoke with Patino, telling him about Jack’s journey into football as well as his love for the club, and his admiration of the Arsenal loanee in particular.

Patino invited Jack to be a mascot at the Swansea.com Stadium for the home fixture against Huddersfield Town match, and took time out of the pre-match warm up to catch up and speak to the teenager.

Jack went on to walk out at the head of the team with captain Matt Grimes and, after Patino netted a late equaliser for the Swans, the junior Jack got the chance to take home a special souvenir as he left with a signed shirt from the Swans goalscorer.

“It was brilliant,” adds Jack.

“I will never forget that day, it was the best thing I’ve ever experienced.

“Hearing the crowd cheer as we came out, it was just a really good experience.

“After the game, we were in reception and Charlie came in, I was talking to him and then he gave me his shirt.

“It was just amazing to be able to see him play and it was just phenomenal, it’s just everything that I’ve ever wanted to do.”

You can find out more about the Foundation’s Premier League Kicks pan-disability sessions here.