INSPIRATIONAL Tyler Swaine hasn’t allowed a harrowing battle with cancer to get in the way of his passion for the sport he loves.
The ten-year-old footballer is a member of Barnsley FC Academy’s under-tens and has been nominated by the club for his spirit and determination since he was diagnosed and throughout his treatment.
Mick Tarmey, who is Head of Academy recruitment, said: “I would like to put forward for Young Conqueror of the Year, one of our U10s’ footballers Tyler Swaine.
“We recruited Tyler when he was eight years old and tragically not long after this, we were informed by his parents that Tyler had been diagnosed with cancer.
“Needless to say, this was devastating news in particular for his Mum and Dad. Having offered our 100 per cent support and, following meetings with his parents, three months into his cancer treatment Tyler expressed a wish to come back in to train with his age group.
“Despite having lost all his hair as a consequence of chemotherapy, this did not phase Tyler one bit and his team mates were very supportive. Closely monitored by the medical team and oncologists, Tyler carried on as if nothing had happened to him and fought his way back to fitness and playing in games for the Academy versus high-profile teams such as Newcastle United, Manchester City, Sheffield United etc and performed admirably, despite being in full cancer treatment.
“That alone in my view made him a Conqueror. However, Tyler’s outstanding resilience was to be tested even further when in late 2023 he suffered one of the worst footballing injuries you can get by fracturing his right femur. To most human beings (and parents) this would have spelt the end of football at an elite Academy! But Tyler is a special human being, despite still having his cancer treatment Tyler attended every rehabilitation and strength and conditioning session with passion and determination beyond his very young years.
“Fast forward to where he is now, Tyler has got back to full fitness and has played in almost every game this season, and a bigger achievement is that a few weeks ago Tyler ‘RANG THE BELL’ to signal the end of his cancer treatment. I am aware that there will be a lot of young boys and girls deserving of your award quite rightly so, but I’m an army veteran of 22 years’ service and I have seen first-hand courage, resilience, bravery and tenacity from fellow comrades and I have witnessed all of that in Tyler to conquer and overcome everything that has been thrown at him in his very young life so far.”
Tyler’s Mum Ashley Henderson was delighted to hear about the nomination: “The academy has been so supportive throughout all this and have all helped Tyler so much but what they say is so true Tyler doesn’t appreciate how amazing he has been. He is a real inspiration but he doesn’t think he has done anything special.
“It’s been a massive rollercoaster for us as a family including his little sister Lexi who is six it was a confusing time for her but what Tyler has been through made us all focus on life’s positives no matter how small they were at times.
“Tyler has always been a strong little boy but how he has dealt with this has been something else. For a large part of his treatment he would continue to go to school and play football which is just not normal for someone who is going through what he was, The medical staff advised us to get a wheelchair as they said he would probably need it at times but we only used it once when he had broken his leg and we all wanted to go out and see the fireworks.
“Tyler is a real example of how we all go through hard times but how you can get through by staying strong. Everyone has been amazing from the academy and his fellow players and his friends at school who treated him like a VIP every time he went back after having some time off.”
Mick concluded: “And, by the way, if you think that Tyler sort of holds back a little when playing in matches, because of his past trauma, then you’re wrong! Come down to the Academy and watch him, He would tackle a raging bull if it took the ball off him.”
