#WeCouldBe whatever we want… Jack Rutter, GB CP Footballer & DSC Patron describes his inspirational journey to the top, launching our new campaign
Jack Rutter was on the verge of accomplishing his dream and becoming a professional footballer for Birmingham City Football Club. Football was his passion, his life. Unfortunately, Jack got caught up in an assault, left with two fractures to his skull and diagnosed with mild Cerebral Palsy. That didn’t stop him.
“Before School I’d go and play football. I’d get back, drop my bag off, run into the garden and play football again. When I signed for Birmingham City, I wanted to make the most of it. I wanted to be a professional footballer… I was so, so close.”
The assault left Jack with serious brain damage, deaf in his right ear, unable to walk straight and as a result heavily depressed too. “To be within inches of achieving a dream that I had had, I’d say for 3 or 4 years, it was horrendous. I didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
Then the opportunity came. Jack was called by the Head of Football at The Football Association, who asked Jack to have a trial with the England Football Team… “and I was like wow, what an opportunity this is for me” and he was not letting this one go.
Jack describes himself as “rising from the ashes” to accomplish his dream in Rio Paralympic Games 2016, captaining the GB 7-aside Football Team. “Rio, in particular, was incredible and I got the opportunity to play against some of the best footballers in the world on the global stage in the second biggest sporting event in the world.”
Jack has now played in 5 major tournaments representing England & Great Britain; the Intercontinental Cup, European Championships, World Championships, Paralympics Games in Rio 2016, and has just recently returned from Argentina in the IFCPF Football World Championships, finishing 4th, becoming the most successful England CP Football team in history.
It’s clear Jacks passion, drive and ambition in football still remains very true with medals on his to do list. Here at Disability Sports Coach, we are incredibly proud that Jack is a patron and it is undisputed that he has become whatever he wanted to be!
Now share Jack’s story, inspire those around you and remember #WeCouldBe whatever we want!
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