Nathan: FA's first wheelchair referee

Having been born prematurely with cerebral palsy , mum and dad knew early on that I would have difficulties with mobility but only time would tell just how much I would be affected. It became apparent that walking was not going to be straightforward for me, so to try and assist initially I had Botox injections in my calf muscles. Fortunately I was too young at the time to remember the experience but mum and dad told me that it was a very painful thing to have done. I am not sure why people are so happy to have it done to their face!

As this only provided short term help, I have faced a number of operations on my legs which gave me sufficient movement and strength to be able to walk short distances with the aid of what's known as a Kaye walker. However, due to these limitations, I also need to use a wheelchair. Just before I moved on to secondary school, I was really happy and relieved when, thanks to the charity, Whizz-Kidz, I received my first electric wheelchair. Now I was in charge!

'When I grow up I want to be a referee!'

I have always loved sport, particularly football. Being unable to walk properly, I couldn't really join in playing football with my able bodied friends and so all l could do was to watch. However, eventually I was able to get involved as they began to let me act as a referee. Over time people would ask what I wanted to do when I left school and I told them that I wanted to be a referee. It is fair to say that no one really took me seriously, not even mum and dad.

Throughout secondary school, everyone did their best to be inclusive, and so on the sporting side, where I couldn't take full part in the game itself, they encouraged me to officiate. At the age of 16 I took the big step of moving from London to a residential college in the West Country. Having been particularly reliant on mum and dad until then, this was a huge move, but with their encouragement and with the extra confidence I had gained through the help of Whizz-Kidz, I started my three year sports course.

The only wheelchair-using FA qualified football referee

It was during my time there that, having expressed my interest in refereeing, I met up with staff at Gloucestershire FA and they saw no reason why I couldn't do the referee's course. So, having completed the course, I am now a fully qualified FA referee for short-sided football matches (i.e. up to 9-a-side). As I understand it, I am the only wheelchair-using FA qualified football referee in the country!

The matches I referee tend to be on astroturf - my chair would struggle on a wet, and muddy pitch, but other than that there are no real restrictions for me. The first time I was in charge of an official game I was a little nervous about what the teams would say, but apart from the usual moans and groans that all referees face, I was treated well and I look forward to continuing with this over the coming years. I know I won't become a Premiership referee, but I have achieved my ambition, much to everyone's amazement.

Being part of a foster family

While I have been dependent on mum and dad to help me with lots of things, as I grew up this has reduced and ahead of me moving to residential college, they had discussed with me the idea of them becoming foster carers, particularly of babies. At first I wasn't too keen, (babies cry a lot, I thought!) but as we chatted it through together as they went through the training process, I understood how, with all the experience they had of bringing me up, they could be a big help to other children who were in need of a loving family.

Right from our first placement, it has been great having the little ones around. When I am at college I am always keen to hear how things are going and with FaceTime I can also see how they are growing. While it has meant a few changes for us all, it's never stopped Mum and Dad visiting me, and I will still have my own bedroom at home until I move on!

The Fostering Network brings together everyone who is involved in the lives of fostered children and young people to lead, inspire, motivate and support them to make foster care better. To support our work visit www.fostering.net/donate or to donate £10 text FOST37 £10 to 70070.