Skye Lothian, player for Barton Inclusive FC, is ready to tell her story.
In 2022, Barton Inclusive FC, were successful in achieving a Women’s Euro Fund grant (Sport England); with the aim of creating a women’s inclusive football team.
Skye has been diagnosed with Autism and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and has had a difficult journey in football.
Skye bravely speaks of the difficulties she has faced:
“For years, I knew I felt different and I could never understand why?
Growing up playing in multiple teams which were always boys, being the only girl on the team, really affected my confidence.
I tried and tried and gave it my all however I just never felt part of the team. Like many girls, I got to a certain age and I knew it was time I had to join a girls team. Trying to be positive that I was going to be around girls with the same passion and love as me, I thought it was going to be good but unfortunately I was wrong and this is where I knew trying to fit in and be ‘normal’ was going to be hard.
With the lack of understanding and support from the team and coaches, this hurt me as I was wanting to be like them and be part of the team but I was made to stand out and be excluded.
I made the decision to leave which I found really hard and I felt like a part of me had been stripped.”
After a significant time away from the game she loved, Skye found Barton Inclusive FC.
“After time out of the game I came across BIFC and I soon felt like a part of me had come back!
I knew straight away that the team was going to be for me and I was going to be with people who took the time to understand, support and include me.
It was definitely one of the better decisions I’ve ever made. I have become more self confident and become comfortable around people.”
Skye now competes for BIFC, and is loving being back doing what she loves!
The biggest success for Skye is that she is now playing for an 11-a-side team, the newly formed Barton Town Women’s FC, and was recently a guest speaker at an International Women’s Day event at Lincolnshire FA, where she spoke, with great courage, about her remarkable journey in football.
What’s most powerful about Skye’s journey?
She sums it up beautifually:
“It’s made me see that I want to peruse a career in helping people like myself access sport where everyone can be included.”
The Skye really is the limit!
