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For the last ten years, disability football has been one of the biggest parts of Deian’s life.

Deian, 17, was born with spina bifida – when a baby’s spine and spinal cord does not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine.

When he was younger Deian played football at mainstream football clubs, but they didn’t quite know how to accommodate him.

“They didn’t want him to play in any matches because they didn’t want him to get hurt,” explained mum Catherine.

They decided to look for somewhere with more expertise with disability football and ended up finding the Foundation.

That was around ten years ago, and a seven-year-old Deian quickly knew this was the place for him.

“When he first started coming to Foundation sessions he grew to like it more and more, so we decided to play here full time,” his mum said.

“He wouldn’t go anywhere else now.”

Deian plays around four times a week, taking every opportunity he can to get out onto the pitch.

“He plays in the pan-disability team and in the Sunday league side, but the CP team is by far his favourite,” Catherine said.

Deian has been a part of the cerebral palsy team for a couple of years, and playing with adults has really helped him develop.

“He’s one of the youngest in the CP squad, he’s only just turned 17 so he’s only been around the squad for a couple of years,” Catherine said.

Playing so often has helped Deian develop as a player, but his mum believes there are so many benefits for him beyond that.

“He absolutely loves it, and it helps with everything,” she said.

“Knowing about football and being involved with it helps him socially at school. He goes to a mainstream college, and football gives him something to talk about.

“It helps him physically too. Football is his favourite exercise, and his physio is very happy he plays four times a week.

Playing football means Deian doesn’t have to focus on his physio exercises so much, which he’s very happy about!”

In his time with the Foundation, Deian has become a huge Albion fan and goes to most home and away games.

His first opportunity to go to a game came in 2016. Deian was facing an operation on his foot, and one of his coaches, Tyler, wanted to give him something to look forward to.

Tyler offered to take Deian to an Albion game at the Amex; Deian went and was hooked right away.

Despite becoming a huge Seagulls fan, Deian still knows what he’d rather be doing on the weekend.

“Earlier this season a training session clashed with the big Liverpool game, and the coaches asked us if we wanted to cancel training,” Catherine said.

“Deian said “no, absolutely not”, even though it was Liverpool. He just wanted to play.”

Over the years, Deian has experienced from some incredible moments on the pitch.

“There are so many opportunities for him here. He’s got to play a St George’s Park, Craven Cottage, Chelsea’s Cobham training ground, and even more beyond,” Catherine said.

“Deian has met a few of the first team players here over the years, they sometimes come and meet players here which is really nice. He had a great experience meeting Solly March a few years ago.”

One of the big factors in Deian staying with the Foundation for more than a decade has been his relationship with the coaches.

“The coaches here look after them so well,” Catherine said.

Abbie, who manages the CP team, is one of Deian’s main coaches.

“She’s absolutely brilliant,” Catherine said, “Even if he isn’t first choice in the squad, she still makes sure everyone enjoys themselves and gets some good minutes on the pitch.

“One of the nice things about Phil, who runs the disability programme here, is that he pushes for players to be able to play as much as they possibly can.

“He isn’t getting any more money for it, he just wants the players to get the most out of it. He just wants the best for them.

“The coaches here are so good to him, and they’ve given him so many opportunities. We wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Find out more about getting involved with disability football here.