Hungerford Town is up for a Berkshire Football Award in the category of Match Day Experience sponsored by Rural Pie Co.
For all the pre-amble we usually do for these nominations, this one speaks for itself.. from Hayley Bliss.
Dear Hungerford Town Football Club,
As the season comes to an end, I wanted to send my sincere love and gratitude to each of you. It is my family’s first year in Hungerford but we are now die hard fans for life.
I know you all know Ryan. I want to be clear about what this club means to him.
One lesson that disabled people learn early is that there is a difference between being accepted somewhere and being welcomed. Being accepted means that reasonable measures have been taken to allow your access to entry and participation. It usually ends at what is legally required. The minute you make anyone else uncomfortable in any way, that acceptance can be removed. Most days as I move through the world with Ryan I am on edge. I know we are being accepted. I know that can change in a moment.
Being welcomed is to be safe. It is to be somewhere with people who see you, who like you, and who care about your well being. Being welcomed is rare. My child has been denied entry to over 75 special schools and learning provisions. Places that were supposedly built for him haven’t been able to welcome him.
From the moment we set foot on HTFC ground, Ryan was welcomed. Staff, committee members, players. All of you welcomed my precious boy. You gave him a community.
We moved to Hungerford because Ryan had been in crisis for years. He felt alone and hopeless. He felt like there was nowhere he would be welcomed. You proved him wrong. You gave him a community where he felt like he mattered. Every player, coach, member of staff, or fellow supporter who took the time to give him a fist bump, have a conversation, watch a silly video, or answer a question helped to heal him. You have put a smile on his face and made him feel like he is important.
This club is special. I know it was a hard season. I know it hasn’t ended how you wanted. I know there might not be many moments that you look back on with joy. I hope that you can look back and remember that this season, you saved a young man who was alone, and you gave his very tired mother hope for the future.
Thank you so much for everything you have done.
All my love
Hayley
In writing to us separately, Hayley added some context:
Last summer we moved to Hungerford and promised ourselves that even though it was a much smaller place than where we had left that we would do our best to build a village for our family. We had no idea that we were about to walk into the most radically wonderful place we could have imagined for Ryan.
Hungerford Town Football Club has been the centre of our lives since arriving. Even before the new season began, John Cobb took Ryan up to see the grounds and while there he met several people who work and volunteer for the club who could immediately see how much our boy lives for football. They were so happy and excited to have such a fan joining their ranks.
From then on, every person there has met Ryan where he was, and gently offered more. When we began turning up to all of the under 23 matches as well as the first team, they invited us to come watch them train every week.
Some weeks we were with the team four times and each and every time they all were so happy to have Ryan there. They have remained fully welcoming of Ryan through all of the ups and downs of the season. Last week when the team was unfortunately relegated, Ryan was heartbroken but before we could leave the ground he sought out at least 4 of our favorite people, each who immediately stopped what they were doing to meet him with a big hug and kind words. By the time we made it home I was crying myself, Partially I was crying because of course when my child is heartbroken, so am I, but mostly because watching him seek out these people who were strangers to us 8 months ago for comfort was one of the most wonderful things I had ever seen.
Last night, we traveled to Slough with Mum to see the team compete in the Berks & Bucks Cup Final. We were playing a team leagues above us, one who had already won this trophy nearly two dozen times. I tried to keep Ryan focused on how wonderful it was that we were in the final, but Ryan came looking for a win.
The boys definitely gave us a show. They scored twice in the final minutes of the game triggering a penalty shootout. I screamed for two minutes straight. Ryan had been hoping to see his first penalty shootout and the team gave that to him. In the end we lost, and while Ryan was sad I could see that the experience of the game was still one he would enjoy remembering. As we watched the trophy presentation, Ryan bemoaned that we were 2nd place and not the winners, but he clapped and cheered for his team.
Then, the most wonderful thing happened. The manager, Danny [Robinson] found Ryan and me in the crowd. He yelled and gestured for Ryan to join him on the pitch. We tried our best to get there and were eventually met by one of the players, Jordan Rose. On behalf of the team, Jordan presented Ryan with one of their medals. Then he asked us to join the rest of the team in the dressing room.
When we arrived, Ryan spent a moment sharing with the team the matches that had led to this moment of glory. He remembered each date and score. Then when he was done Jordan spoke on behalf of the team thanking Ryan for his support. He said that Ryan means so much to the team. They love seeing him on the sidelines, at training, and on the coach. He loves the team, and they love him too.
Ryan and I both left a little shell shocked. It was just the most amazing, wonderful moment. Hungerford has a fan for life in me.
Agree that Hungerford Town should be up for the Match Day Experience award? Or do you have someone else in mind? Let us know in the nomination form below:
