NEWS COPY – WITH PICTURES – by Laura Heads
Football-mad Nathan Mattick has given his disability the red-card and become Britain’s first wheelchair-bound REFEREE.
The 19-year-old was born with cerebral palsy which left him unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair.
But he was determined not to let the condition stop him and set about making his dreams of becoming a referee reality.
His hard work has seen him become Britain’s first official ref in a wheelchair and he now regularly takes charge of games for both able-bodied and disabled players.
Nathan officiates indoors and out, on hard all-weather surfaces which are suited to his electric wheelchair.
Nathan, from Cheltenham, Glos., said: “I was so nervous the first time I refereed at a game.
“I thought the players and managers would give me a hard time because I was in a chair and they would question why I was refereeing able-bodied football.
“But I had no problems. People with disabilities can do what able-bodied people do. We just do it in a different way. I have cerebral palsy but that doesn’t mean I can’t do things.
“It’s important you respect every single person whether they have a disability or not. We can all contribute to this world.
“You occasionally get the nasty words but you just get on with it really.”
Nathan has always had a passion for football and once he was old enough he began studying sport at a specialist college.
That built up his confidence and he progressed to taking his professional referee qualifications with Gloucestershire Football Association.
“I’ve wanted to be a referee since a young age, I was watching it on TV and taking it all in,” Nathan added.
“At primary school I couldn’t really get involved so I thought there had to be a way I could get into it.
“I contacted my local FA and they came back saying it was absolutely no problem, they said to do a course and that would qualify me for small-sided football refereeing.”
Nathan referees ‘small-sided’ games varying from five to nine-a-side as well as the Disability League, which is outdoor.
“It can be quite challenging when it’s freezing cold. I just use a normal electric wheelchair so it can get stuck,” he said.
Steve Tanner, referee development officer for Gloucestershire Football Association praised Nathan’s skills.
“The Gloucestershire FA is delighted to be able to support Nathan in achieving his dream of refereeing,” he said.
“Nathan is the first wheelchair user who officiates in Gloucestershire and his commitment towards developing his skills is clearly evident.”
Nathan, who attends the specialist National Star College in Cheltenham, is determined his disability hold him back with his career.
“I want to work with children in the sports industry,” he added.
“I want to get a job and be independent. Going back to my parents would be a step backwards.
“I want to try and get more and more involved in this in the future.
“I’m leaving college in July and I’d like to carry it on.
“When I know where I’m going I can contact the FA and try and get a bit more involved.”
National Star, which is a specialist further education college, supports more than 1,600 young people a year.
It has residential and day students and also runs specialist hubs at other locations around the country.
It is a provider of specialist further education, training and personal development for young people aged 16 to 25 with complex physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries and associated sensory, learning, medical, emotional and behavioural difficulties
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