Young Reporter: Footballer Evan on overcoming arthritis to play football

Evan loves football and plays for Grimsby Town under 11s academy team, training three times a week.

He hopes to go onto be a professional footballer just like his dad, who played for various clubs including Sheffield United, Derby and Portsmouth.

For most of this year he wasn't able to play football at all, due to a health condition, and even found it difficult to walk at times.

But now, after receiving medical treatment, he is feeling a lot better and has been able to return to training - something he is very happy about!

He said: "The feeling when you're on the pitch - all your worries go away."

Evan first realised something was wrong in December last year, after spotting a rash across his tummy and that his knees were swollen.

He went to hospital for some tests and, on Christmas Eve, got the news that he had arthritis - a condition that causes joints to become inflamed and swell up.

Evan wants to one day be a professional footballer like his dad

This can be very painful and prevent people who have it from being able to carry out normal everyday activities.

Arthritis is normally associated with older people, but Evan has JIA which stands for juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Can young people get arthritis?

According to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society the condition affects 1 in every 1000 young people under 16.

JIA is one of the most common causes of physical disability in childhood. When Evan first got the news he felt "sad and was in a lot of pain".

He added: "I was also upset because I had to miss a whole nine months of football, and that made my mental health a bit down."

Over the past year Evan has spent a lot of time in hospital so medical staff could work out the best way to manage his condition

Evan found it difficult even to climb up and down the stairs by himself and ended up missing a lot of school.

What upset him the most was not being able to join his friends and teammates for football training, so instead he would go to the gym by the pitches and use the exercise bikes to help keep fit.

He said: "Sometimes I was a bit negative - thinking I wouldn't get back, but more of the time I felt positive and knew I'd get back - and it paid off because I'm back playing now."

How Evan manages his arthritis

Evan currently has active arthritis in his left foot, particularly in his ankle - but said his family, friends and football give him incredible support when he experiences flair ups and has to take time away from school and sport for treatment.

To manage his condition Evan takes medication every day, including tablets to help manage pain and prevent his joints from become inflamed.

A downside is the ingredients in the tablets can lower his immune system, which means he can get sickness bugs more easily.

He also takes painkillers and goes to a children's hospital twice a month to get a special injection.

Clinical trial for juvenile arthritis

Recently Evan has also been trying a new treatment as part of a clinical trial, and is only the second person in England to take part.

Clinical trials are research studies used to check if a new form of treatment like a new drug is safe and effective for people.

He also believes playing football and staying active helps his condition.

Evan wants to share his story as he thinks many people assume that arthritis just affects older people.

He told Newsround: "When I tell my friends I have arthritis they normally say: 'My Nana's has got that' - but really kids can get it too".

He says when he was first diagnosed he felt embarrassed and didn't want others to know he had JIA.

But now he wants share his story, so that other young people with the condition can feel positive about all the things they can do and not feel limited or ashamed.

He said: "Even if you have got a condition like me, don't let it hold you back!"