A young fan's journey

Today, another young person becomes a teenager - not such a big deal in a world where this happens all the time - but for this young person this is a big deal. Just over a year ago, this fun, smart, caring young man suffered autistic burnout after starting secondary school and hurtled headfirst into a deep and what turned out to be, long depression. During a year where at many times he couldn’t leave his bed, let alone his room, there was one thing that somehow (remarkably) he kept doing. That was travelling from London to Norwich every other week to watch his beloved Norwich City.  How we travelled had to change (no longer could we do public transport, so many miles have been clocked on the A11/M11 combo) and sometimes we don’t make the game, or we can’t stay for all of it - but every other week we do this journey.

I’ve often wondered how this has been possible in a year of such anxiety and sadness but I think it’s the sense of community - the fact that even though you don’t know what is going to happen you can predict exactly how it will be. You know the walk to the ground, the sounds, sights and smells of the football ground, you know the chants and the cheers, you know there might be goals (both for and, alas, this season often against) and you know the same people who sit near you week in, week out, will be there. Even if you don’t really know their names, they know you and have seen you grow up from your first game aged 4 and they accept you. So it becomes predictable and safe - even though it might seem the worst place possible for someone during their recovery.  It also more importantly than anything else allows you to see the world and to realise you could still be part of something.

So today, as you turn 13, and as the season ends, we look forward to another year of steps towards a full recovery for you and hopefully a season of more goals for than against for the boys and ideally promotion for the girls. However today more than ever we notice how much your world has shrunk since you turned 12 - you are no longer able to attend school, clubs or take part in any of your hobbies - so there are no mates to share the day with or hang around being teenagers with, so your birthday will be quiet but not without celebration that you have managed this journey and come so far.

I think we often forget, especially in seasons where the football hasn’t been great, the impact the game can have on all of us and especially our mental health, plus the impact on young people who often aren’t spoken about in the same way regarding their mental health as the older population. Football creates a community on and off the pitch and the fact it has provided someone going through an incredibly difficult year with a place to go and to belong is a rather special birthday gift.