A Blackpool mother has spent many years changing the prospects of young amputees by creating a national junior football initiative, inspired by her family's personal journey. Elaine began this work after her son Jamie, at a young age, was prevented from playing with his local team due to his prosthetic leg. She learned about amputee football and took Jamie to a session for players with various disabilities, where they connected with the national association. Noticing that younger participants struggled when competing against grown-ups, Elaine advocated for and established a separate junior section. She now oversees this junior programme and its safeguarding, while also coaching and raising funds. To finance her community efforts, she holds jobs as a cleaner and in a pub. Part of her earnings goes toward providing Sunday meals for numerous local people in need.
The success of her son demonstrates the programme's value. Jamie, who was born with a limb difference, currently plays for both Everton and the national amputee team, with an upcoming World Cup tournament. Elaine remarked that participants often arrive feeling hopeless about ever playing the sport again, but many progress to the national squad.
Her story offers an uplifting narrative for the town alongside the fortunes of its professional football club. The senior Blackpool team is preparing for a home fixture this weekend against Mansfield Town. The club currently sits 17th in League One on 11 points from ten games, having recorded three wins and two draws. Their recent form has been challenging, with just one win and one draw in their last five matches, a run that includes defeats to Leyton Orient and Cambridge United. They are eleven points behind the league leaders, Stockport County. The team will be looking to build on their last result, a 2-0 victory over Milton Keynes Dons on Tuesday 20 October where goals came from Karoy Anderson and Dale Taylor, when they host Mansfield Town on Saturday 24 October.
More detail at planetradio.co.uk
