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Club highlight campaign aimed at bringing about worldwide neurodiversity acceptance

2025-03-28T15:30:00.000Z

CLARETS SUPPORT NEURODIVERSITY ACCEPTANCE CAMPAIGN

Club highlight campaign aimed at bringing about worldwide neurodiversity acceptance

2025-03-28T15:30:00.000Z

Club highlight campaign aimed at bringing about worldwide neurodiversity acceptance

At Saturday's game against Bristol City, Burnley FC will be highlighting Neurodiversity Acceptance.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week takes place in the last week of March and aims to celebrate different minds and challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences.

At the game the players will be warming up in branded t-shirts and LED boards to promote the week will be visible around the stadium.

Burnley FC in the Community, the Club's official charity deliver programmes in this area including Limitless Clarets and work with young people who have experience of this on their Premier League Kicks, Schools Mental Wellbeing Project and Premier League Inspires programme.

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Ahead of the fixture, U10s Academy Goalkeeper Vinny Reeves and Chief Operating Officer and Club Secretary Matt Williams have also shared their personal experiences.

Vinny Reeves, age 10

U10s Academy Goalkeeper

Hey there! I'm Vinny, and I have ADHD - short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Having ADHD doesn’t hold me back from achieving my goals. It doesn’t mean I can't succeed. At just 8 years old, I was signed to Burnley’s Academy, where I play as a goalkeeper across the U9 and U10 age groups. Since then, I’ve made huge progress, formed great friendships, and grown a lot as a player.

My ADHD gives me unique strengths that contribute to being a great goalkeeper. I can react quickly under pressure, stay fearless in one-on-ones, and remain calm in intense situations. Beyond football, I’ve also won county cross-country championships and excel in sports and strategic games like chess and Fortnite.

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While I do work hard, ADHD can sometimes be a challenge. Sometimes, I can be impulsive, take risks, and seem impatient or distracted. But it's not intentional - I just need to keep moving to stay focused. When I’m active, both my body and mind work at their best.

I manage my ADHD through a balanced diet, 8-10 hours of football a week, and by surrounding myself with people who understand and support me. ADHD makes me fun to be around - I’m adventurous, entertaining, and a caring friend.

I’m not alone in this. Many top athletes have ADHD - like swimmer Michael Phelps, gymnasts Simone Biles and Louis Smith, boxer Nicola Adams, and basketball legend Michael Jordan. They haven’t let ADHD stop their success, and neither will I. It’s just part of who I am.

Burnley FC’s Chief Operating Officer & Club Secretary Matt Williams

Matt Williams has a close connection to Neurodiversity Celebration Week and is proud the Club is showing support for the campaign during Saturday’s game against Bristol City.

“For me it’s massive, I’m proud that the Club do it. Given my family situation with my eldest being autistic and having ADHD. For the Club to support Neurodiversity in the way it does, it’s not just a fantastic gesture, it shows the inclusive nature of Burnley Football Club and how everybody regardless of their situation means something to Burnley.”

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences, aiming to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported.

“I know it’s a cliché and I don’t like using clichés but when you have kids your life changes, and when you have a child that’s got additional needs, your whole outlook on life changes even more.

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“I’m fortunate that my son George is flourishing in mainstream school and has got a great support network behind him, thanks to the school. Not everybody is afforded that and not everybody is as well versed in the law around what people are entitled to. Through that network, through speaking to people and sharing our story, you see that autism is such a broad area. You’ve high functioning people, non-verbal, they’re all special in every way, shape or form.

“George currently has an unhealthy obsession with football, particularly Burnley! I have to regularly send him what kits we’re wearing, explain to him when we’re not wearing Claret away from home and why. He loves the whole thing with the Sky production and how it gets from Turf Moor to his TV. Everything with George is black and white, there’s no grey areas. So, he would struggle doing my job!

“He embraces it and fortunately when people meet George, his personality is infectious. I remember talking to Dean Marney about his son who is autistic. He’s on the spectrum but his situation is completely different to mine. You sit and you discuss things. Society is changing so much, and people are more accepting of people with additional needs, that need additional support, with disabilities and everything. You no longer get the strange looks that you perhaps did five or six years ago, society has moved on so quickly. People embrace these people for what they are.

“Burnley FC in the Community, the Club’s charity has several programmes for people with neurodiversity. The nearest club to where I live is Fleetwood and the things they do with the kids is unbelievable. I never thought I’d see my son at the side of a football pitch waving a flag like he did at Fleetwood last week. They’ve embraced him and it’s not because he’s my son, it’s because of their passion to make it an inclusive environment.”

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Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference and whilst Matt says he has seen progress around the conversation he believes there’s more that can be done.

“It’s like everything, small steps, but I think at Burnley, we were the first football club, certainly the first Premier League Club at the time, to support Autism Awareness Week. That’s partly because of my situation but also one or two of the board members have family members who are autistic. It just shows that the leagues don’t embrace a particular week for neurodiversity. I get that every challenge, every charity, has a magnificent story behind it and we can’t do everything. For me I’d have 23 themed games across the season to promote everything.

“In terms of the way the world is of course you always want more investment into neurodiversity, more investment into the studies and provision, into schools, how to deal with situations.

“Turf Moor is brilliant with the sensory room, but you could put George in there and he’d say that’s not me. George really struggles with sudden loud noises, but he loves going to the football. It’s almost that he’s expecting a goal, that sudden noise, so he deals with it no issue. Whereas, if you sit at home and there’s a loud noise it’s different.

“You’re never going to please everybody. We all want a better supporter experience. But the fact that Burnley Football Club recognise neurodiversity week and are designating a game is magnificent.”

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