Andover teenager selected to represent England in Powerchair football

Tom Kelly, 19, of St Swithin Way in Andover, is excited to represent England at the Home Nations Cup that will be held in Northern Ireland this weekend (April 2-3).

England will play against Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland over the weekend and all matches will be available to watch via live-stream.

Tom who plays powerchair football for Aspire PFC, who are based in St Albans, was selected after being invited to attend the National Emerging Talent Programme, the talent pathway for footballers run by the FA.

He was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a life-limiting muscle-wasting condition, just before he turned six.

By the time he was 10, he decided that he needed to use a wheelchair full time as he was falling more frequently and getting tired easily.

At this stage, he had to change schools to a more accessible one that could cater to his wheelchair, and his changing physical needs.

Tom started school at Hatherden and then attended Anton Juniors and Kings at Winchester before moving to Barton Peverell College.

His mum Sam Kelly said Tom took up Powerchair football after it was recommended by the parents of another child who had the same condition.

Sam said: “After his diagnosis, we went to a support meeting run by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in Southampton and met a couple of other parents whose children had the same condition. One of the parents suggested Powerchair football as a sport to try for a boy that loved his sport but wasn’t able to keep up or partake in normal sports anymore.

“We went along to Portsmouth, which was our nearest club, to try it out and Tom loved it.

“He’s never looked back. He played for Portsmouth Powerchair Football Club and played in the South East regional league and the National League that takes place in Nottingham. The National League consists of two divisions with teams from all over the country. He won the golden boot in his first season of the South East regional league.”

After meeting the family of another boy with the same condition while on holiday in Cyprus, they invited Tom to try out their club, Muscle Warriors, part of the Aspire PFC Hub based in Watford.

Tom has played at the hub ever since and in 2019, he got invited to play for Aspire PFC, one of the top teams in the country and whose coach/captain is the captain of England.

Aspire PFC qualified for the European Cup in Geneva in 2020, but unfortunately, due to Covid it got postponed and eventually cancelled in 2021.

Last year Aspire got to the final of the WFA Cup and went to St George’s Park to play the final against West Bromwich Albion as part of the FA Disability Cup weekend, but unfortunately, they were lost on penalties.

This was the first Powerchair football match to be televised live on BT Sport.

Tom has played different positions but is currently playing mostly as a goalkeeper.

Tom’s dream is to represent England at the Powerchair football World Cup. It was due to be played in Australia this October but has now been postponed again to next year.

Powerchair football is played in specially designed electric wheelchairs with bumpers for hitting the larger ball.

Tom bought his wheelchair after collecting nearly £10,000 from a fundraiser.

Sam said her son trains every Sunday in St Albans and they, as a family, travel across the country for matches in the regional and the national league and the WFA cup.

Tom is currently at Brunel University in Uxbridge, studying psychology, sport, health and exercise. Last September he moved out of home and employed carers for the first time. This was a big step for Tom who needs 24-hour care.

Tom, who never lets his disability get him down, is an avid sports fan and has extensive knowledge of most sports.

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