Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet paid a visit to the LFC Foundation’s Inclusion Football project at Anfield, to meet a regular participant, Darragh Smith.
The 11-year-old Reds fan is autistic and attends Respect 4 All sessions at Anfield Sports and Community Centre every week, where he enjoys working on his skills and socialising with the other participants.
The youngsters were recently treated to a surprise visit from Mignolet, who spent some time with Darragh and chatted about football.
“I’m glad he’s enjoying the sessions and that he can play his football here, that’s what it’s all about,” said Mignolet.
“It’s great that the LFC Foundation helps kids in the community by giving them the chance to come and play football – all credit to the volunteers and coaches that make it happen.”
Darragh has been attending Respect 4 All since 2015 and says he just wants to get ‘better and better’ at football. In those four years, he has grown in confidence and his footballing ability is now starting to shine through.
The LFC Foundation’s inclusion project uses a variety of fun and inclusive sessions to remove potential barriers that can exist regarding accessibility to sport for disabled people.
Football and sports sessions are aimed at people with a range of needs including, but not restricted to: learning difficulties, deaf and physical impairments, visual impairments, autism, and wheelchair users.