Ollie is a student we’ve had the privilege of working with over several years, having first met him back in 2018. Even before his involvement in the Premier League Primary Stars sessions, Ollie stood out as a bright, enthusiastic, and positive young person who excelled in physical education and was always the first to offer support to his peers, acting as both a leader and a role model.
Outside of the classroom, Ollie’s passion for football was clear. His weekends revolved around playing for multiple teams and supporting Walsall FC, regularly attending home matches with his grandad. For Ollie, these experiences shaped his aspirations of becoming a professional footballer, and for his grandad, they were a source of pride and emotional connection.
Like many children, the COVID-19 lockdown deeply affected Ollie. According to his mum “His confidence dropped and his love for football became less and less. It was like having a completely different child who was becoming more and more withdrawn from everyday life.”
Returning to school post-lockdown was a significant challenge. Ollie showed clear signs of anxiety. His attendance declined, and this began to affect his academic development. Perhaps most heartbreaking of all, he stopped going to Walsall FC matches with his grandad, disrupting a cherished routine and taking a toll on their shared experience. Recognising that Ollie was struggling, the school reached out to us at the Walsall FC Foundation for support.
Through the Primer League Primary Stars sessions, we introduced practical tools like daily emotion charts and weekend reflection reports, which allowed Ollie to track his feelings and celebrate small wins.
As weeks progressed, Ollie began to thrive. His attendance improved, his anxiety decreased, and he started engaging positively with school again.
His mum shared: “From the first session, I saw a glimpse of our old Ollie. As the sessions continued, his confidence and cheeky smile returned.
To celebrate Ollie’s progress, we arranged a surprise visit for him and his grandad to Walsall FC’s training ground. They received a full tour led by first-team manager Matt Sadler, met players in the gym, and watched a full training session. Afterward, the players gathered around Ollie, shared their pride in his journey, and gifted him signed memorabilia.
The visit was a powerful moment not just for Ollie but for his grandad too, rekindling their bond and reaffirming Ollie’s love for football.
We continue to check in on Ollie, and his progress has remained steady. As a final reward for all his hard work, Ollie will soon walk out as a mascot at an official Walsall FC match, side-by-side with a player of his choosing, a moment that will give him one final taste of the professional footballer experience he once only dreamed of.
His story is a reminder of the long-term impact we can have when we take the time to listen, support, and believe in our young people.
For more information on the Premier League Primary Stars programme, contact: billy.cartwright@walsallfcfoundation.co.uk.
