Autistic FC break stigmas with mainstream game

Autistic FC have now played eight games in an under-15s league

A group of neurodiverse teenagers are breaking into the "neurotypical world" by playing their debut season in a mainstream league, the club chairman has said.

Autistic FC has been running in Brentwood, Essex, for the past five years.

The team has played eight games in this season's Brentwood Community Football Alliance Under 15s Division Four.

Dan Franklyn believes they are the first team of autistic youngsters to play in a mainstream setup.

He founded the club after seeing his son "getting upset every week" while playing for a local mainstream team.

The Essex FA said it could not be prouder following the club's progress

"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.

He said the club - also known as AFC United - had two players short of a full team when it was founded, but now had almost 90 on the books.

"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."

Mr Franklyn said lots of shouting and "sensory issues" in mainstream football needed to be "looked at".

"We empower these children to be themselves and being themselves is the biggest thing they can do."

Although the team is yet to bring home a victory, the chairman said the team has improved a lot.

Mr Franklyn said he thought the parents would "explode" with happiness when the team scored its first goal.

Essex county FA equality and inclusion officer, Milly Morgan, said she "couldn't be prouder" following the club's progress.