Amazing Layla celebrated at Players’ Awards
“She’s been on crutches, she’s been in wheelchairs, and she’s still come out of it smiling,” mum Rebecca said about her daughter, Layla.
Layla was named as the BHAFC Foundation Award winner at the annual Players’ Awards ceremony, earning praise for her resilience and attitude on the football pitch.
Layla, 12, first joined in at a Foundation inclusive football session about three years ago. She has cerebral palsy, and has loved the game from an early age.
“I really love football,” Layla said.
“I always watched my brothers play and kicked a ball around with them. I talked to my dad and mum and said ‘I like this too, I want to get into a football team’.”
Layla’s parents found her a place in the BHAFC Foundation disability football programme, and the coaches there made her feel at home.
“In my primary school I was scared to play football with everyone else, but now I join in,” Layla said.
Mum Rebecca added: “The Foundation is a bit of a saviour for her. We are so blessed that they’ve taken her under their wing.
“She felt like she couldn’t do everything that everyone else was doing, but now my daughter has confidence, and feels part of a team.”
Layla has a leg length discrepancy, meaning one of her legs is longer than the other.
“She’s fighting a daily battle,” Rebecca explained, “she’s always got pain in her hips and in her knees.
“She’s never let it bother her though. She’s always found a way to do things her way.”
After having three surgeries – the final being a major surgery to sever her Achilles – Layla had to learn how to walk again.
“It was challenging because I had to stop playing the sport I wanted to play,” Layla said, “I couldn’t go out and see all my friends.
“I had to re-learn how to play football.”
Phil Broom, Disability Manager at the charity, has seen Layla develop as a player and as a young person over the past few years.
“Layla’s absolutely incredible, her attitude, her knowledge. She thrives off it!” Phil said.
“Just to even be on that football pitch, I could sense she’d been through a journey in her life. You could sense resilience.”
Layla has continued to improve on the pitch and her coaches say she has plenty of confidence when she plays.
“I’m more than capable of doing it,” Layla said, “I can run with the ball instead of pacing behind everyone, and actually passing without nearly falling over.
“I’m really proud of myself. I feel immortal.”
Layla’s strength and resilience has impressed everyone at the charity, as well as her own mum.
“It’s been life-changing for Layla,” Rebecca said, “She’s been on crutches, she’s been in wheelchairs, and she’s still come out of it smiling.
“She’s so brave and she just astounds me.”
“She’s been amazing, and she’s so deserving of the award,” Phil Broom added.
