How Grealish helped a teen told he 'wasn't disabled enough' to play football

TEENAGER Bryan Kilpatrick-Elliott had struggled to find a pathway in grassroots football, with his cerebral palsy preventing him from playing for mainstream youth clubs.

- JOE BRAY

After finding the para-football pathway and making his way through the England system based at St George's Park for almost 10 years, Bryan was not only in a place where he could enjoy football again, but also seek much-needed support called Bryan, the pair left St George's Park in August last year for the final time, with no support offered to players who are told they cannot continue, and a closed door to para football in future.

To make matters worse, the classification decision is final, meaning Bryan cannot play for any para football team. "He is not disabled enough for para football but too disabled for competitive mainstream football," dad Bryan told the Manchester Evening News.

"They said it's not good news, you're not disabled enough to put you through this classification ruling and you won't carry on with the program. Elite sport is brutal at any level, but because it was never considered or men among peers who have been through similar life experiences.

Like all players in the para-football system, they must be classified when they turn 16 in order to maintain a level playing field for competitions. This involves a medical before a place on the next stage of the program can be awarded. Having been assured that Bryan would be given classification, despite his slightly milder condition, the Doncaster-based teen was devastated to be told last year that he didn't meet the level required to continue.