Richard Luscombe Young people and parents involved in the new Argyle 4 Autism programme received a special and personal surprise this week when Argyle first-team defender Julio Pleguezuelo visited their session at The Hub at Foulston Park.
Pleguezuelo, a key founder of the initiative, not only participated in the activities to inspire the young people but also shared personal experiences with young people and parents, as he and his family are going through an autism diagnosis with one of his own children.
“It was important for me to come down and see the programme for myself. I’m going through a similar situation at home,” Pleguezuelo said.
“It is good to give the young people the opportunity to spend some time with me, but it is also good for me to interact with the young people and parents and learn from them.
“It’s so nice to see them run around and be happy. At the end of the day, that’s what we want for our kids. It was so good to spend time with them.”
Argyle 4 Autism, a Players’ Project Pilot supported by the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), supports children with autism, or who are currently awaiting an official diagnosis. Sessions include multi sports and esports, and provide a safe, structured, and inclusive environment where children can develop physical, social, and emotional skills through football.
The programme combines physical activity with tailored learning strategies to cater to the unique sensory, communication, and behavioural needs of children on the autism spectrum and, importantly, equally focuses on educating and empowering parents through workshops and dedicated resources.
Club captain Joe Edwards, who helped develop the programme alongside Pleguezuelo added: “It’s a pleasure to have assisted with this project.
“Football is a great way for people, whatever their background or situation, to come together and have fun, with something we all love in common.”
“We’ve done our best to create a programme which is educational, challenging, accessible and, most importantly, fun. Hopefully plenty of people will come along and enjoy.”
The impact of the programme was clearly visible to attendees, including the PFA’s Community Liaison Executive, Scott Walker, who noted: “It’s really important to showcase this activity and highlight that players really can give back, make a difference, help out the community, and support their fanbase.”
One delighted participant, Freddie, shared how the sessions have supported him: “It’s really good because you get to see people who are experiencing the same stuff as you and you get to know more about your problems.
“I felt all alone like the stupidest kid in the world. But coming to Argyle 4 Autism has made me realise that I’m not alone.
“I loved meeting the player and having the experience. When I grow up it will be a childhood memory that I’ll never forget.”
Argyle 4 Autism is delivered at The Hub at Foulston Park on Tuesdays – multi sports from 4pm to 5pm and esports from 5pm to 7pm.
To book a session please visit https://www.abler.io/shop/pafc/disabilityprogrammes.
