Kicking Goals: Max’s Inspiring Journey as a Child Amputee Footballer
At only 13, Max is already proving to be a remarkable young man. Full of energy and resilience, he’s found confidence, friendship, and purpose through amputee football. We had the pleasure of speaking with Max’s mum, Rachel, who shared his inspiring journey from amputation at just 7 weeks old to proudly playing with the England Amputee Football Association. Now, we're honoured to share Max’s story with you.
The Journey
Max is 13 years old and he lives with me, his dad and his little sister in St Helens, Merseyside. Like a lot of boys his age, he loves getting stuck into football and spending time with his friends and family.
Max’s journey hasn’t been the easiest. He was diagnosed with amniotic band syndrome before birth, and at 7 weeks old he had to have a below-the-knee amputation on his right leg. As parents, it was a lot to process at the time, but Max has never known any different. He has grown up adapting, adjusting, and learning how to move through the world on his own terms.
Being an amputee, physically, the challenges are clear. But there is also a mental toll that we don't always see. That said, Max’s strength and spirit are a constant inspiration to all of us.
Max initially used basic NHS hospital crutches. But they didn’t offer the support he needed. They just weren't comfortable and his hands were in constant pain. Max can't use his prosthetic blade due to complications with his knee, so it was really important that we found strong, comfortable crutches for him so he could play football pain-free.
After recommendations from other parents on The England Amputee Football Association team, I reached out to Amelia at Cool Crutches and we haven't looked back. Max was desperate for a pair of blue crutches as he's a big Everton supporter so when his new Blue Crutches arrived not only was he was chuffed that he finally had his teams colours, but also because he felt safe using them and said they were super comfortable!
School Life To The Footy Pitch
School hasn’t always been plain sailing. While Max is now thriving at high school and has built some solid friendships, primary school was tough. His opportunities for sport and play were very limited which made it hard for him to feel included and connect with other children.
Signing Max up to amputee football was a game-changer for us all. It gave Max something special: a space where he could compete, have fun, and feel totally himself. He was surrounded by kids with similar experiences. The England Amputee Football Association is a place where Max doesn’t feel like he has to explain or adapt - he just plays, and as his parents, it fills us with so much joy.
Being part of a team where everyone understands his day-to-day realities has been transformative. Not only does he love the sport, but it’s also given him a real sense of belonging and achievement.
Family Strength
I hope that one of the key ingredients to Max’s positivity is us, his family. We make sure we are there for the lows as well as the highs. We try and do everything together as a family. We cheer him on at all of his football games, and he's there cheering his sister on at hers. That togetherness is a huge part of maintaining strong mental health, not just for Max, but for us too. Max is a teenage boy, with teenage boy problems. It's not all about being an amputee, it's also about giving him the tools to be the best version of himself.
As a parent you are always looking out for how you can make your child's life better, as a parent of a disabled child this is heightened because the world simply isn't designed for disability. Progress is happening to make the world a more inclusive place - but not fast enough. Schools, in particular, can lag behind. Sometimes it feels like they are just ticking a box rather than embracing everyone's differences so they can actually make it a better and safer environment for children with disabilities.
Thank you so much to Rachel and Max for sharing this story of strength, love and connection through sport. We will all make sure we watch out for Max's bright future as a football player.
If you'd like to read about other amazing children in our community, try these blogs:
