Autistic FC Challenges Stigmas in Mainstream Football League Debut

The chairman of Autistic FC stated that a team of neurodiverse teenagers is making inroads into the “neurotypical world” by participating in their inaugural season within a mainstream league. Autistic FC has operated in Brentwood, Essex, for five years. This season, the team has completed eight matches in the Brentwood Community Football Alliance Under 15s Division Four. Dan Franklyn holds the belief that this is the first team composed of autistic young individuals to compete in a mainstream sports environment. Mr. Franklyn established the club after observing his son “getting upset every week” during his time playing for a local mainstream team. “As a group of young adults, they are breaking so many stigmas and boundaries that have been put in front of them over the years – it is so inspirational to see,” said Mr Franklyn. Mr. Franklyn mentioned that the club, also referred to as AFC United, initially lacked two players for a complete team upon its establishment but now boasts nearly 90 registered members. “It just goes to show how needed our football club is,” he continued. “A lot of them have been told ‘you can come to training but we don’t want you to play for our team’ and it’s not good enough.” According to Mr. Franklyn, the prevalence of shouting and “sensory issues” within mainstream football needs to be “looked at”. “We empower these children to be themselves and being themselves is the biggest thing they can do.” Despite the team not yet securing a win, the chairman noted significant improvement in their performance. Mr. Franklyn expressed his anticipation that parents would “explode” with joy upon the team scoring its inaugural goal. Milly Morgan, the Essex county FA equality and inclusion officer, conveyed that she “couldn’t be prouder” of the club’s advancements.