CITC spoke with Leanne, whose son Jobie first began attending City Kicks sessions in 2023.
Through City Kicks sessions, Jobie has formed friendships and taken important steps towards rebuilding his confidence both on and off the pitch.
Leanne, Jobie’s mother, explained how she first discovered CITC sessions and why she felt they could give Jobie the support he needed.
She said: “I first learnt about City Kicks towards the end of 2023 after spotting a poster in our local community hub.
“At that time Jobie wasn’t part of any clubs or groups. He’d been through an incredibly difficult period that had completely shattered his confidence.
“He isolated himself from friends, lost confidence in people around him and his mental health deteriorated.
“He didn’t want to go to school anymore, didn’t want to join clubs and heartbreakingly he even stopped wanting to play the sport he loved most.
“As a parent, all I wanted was for him to feel like he belonged somewhere again.
“City Kicks felt like the perfect opportunity not just for him to play the game he loved, but to make friends, build his confidence and become part of something positive.”
Since joining City Kicks, Leanne has seen significant change in her son. Describing the transformation as incredible, she added: “The frightened little boy who barely wanted to leave the house now walks into sessions with a smile on his face, excited to see his friends and the coaches who have become such a big part of his life.
“He got his spark back. He’s happier, more resilient, more independent and has regained full belief in himself.
“Jobie needed experiences that would rebuild his confidence piece by piece. He needed positive role models. He needed to feel successful again. He needed somewhere he could simply be a child.
“CITC gave him exactly that. Every encouraging word from a coach, every new friendship and every football session helped replace fear with confidence.
“Football became so much more than a game. It became his way back to himself.”
As Jobie’s confidence grew, so did his footballing ability. After attending City Kicks, he eventually felt ready to join a grassroots football team.
“City Kicks was the foundation that everything else has been built on.
“Eventually, he found the confidence to join a grassroots football team, something I genuinely don’t think he would ever have done before attending CITC sessions.”
Jobie also attends City Soccer Schools during school holidays, with Leanne explaining why it is important for Jobie to keep his connection with CITC:
“It [CITC] feels like home. Soccer Schools gives him so much more than football. It’s somewhere familiar, somewhere safe and somewhere he knows he’ll be welcomed, encouraged and challenged to keep improving.
“CITC didn’t just help Jobie become a better footballer, it rebuilt a little boy whose confidence had been broken. It reminded him that the world can still be full of kind people.”
Held at multiple locations across Greater Manchester, the City Kicks programme aims to encourage participants to socialise and take part in football actives, free of charge.
With thanks to the Premier League Foundation for funding this programme.
CITC’s Soccer Schools programme provides participants aged between six and 16 a free full day of structured coaching, as well as a free meal, during the school holidays.
To find out more about the City Kicks programme, visit: mancity.com/kicks
For more on the City Soccer Schools programme, visit: mancity.com/soccerschools
City in the Community empowers healthier lives through football.
To find out more, visit www.mancity.com/citc or follow @citcmancity on social media.
If you want to support CITC and its participants, join the ‘City in the Community Club.’
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