Dylan Stokes will be proudly wearing his Middlesbrough shirt when he represents his club at the PL/BT Disability Football Festival in Manchester today.
"He is very funny, mischievous, typical teenage boy," says Dylan's mum Kelly. "He loves football and going out and about.
"He has Down's Syndrome which sometimes makes it hard for him to socialise. It's quite hard to find things for him to do with the same abilities as his."
That has changed for the 15-year-old thanks to the MFC Foundation's Borobility disability programme and the Premier League/BT Disability Fund.
Dylan has been attending the Foundation's football sessions led by inclusion coach Tom Readman.
"The best thing about my job is making a difference to people's lives every day," says Tom.
Tom has helped Dylan by giving him roles of responsibility at the sessions.
Dylan has been made the team captain for matches. This allows him to integrate with the team and motivate the other players.
"It's been a God-send," Kelly says. "It's as if he is playing with his friends.
"He is happy and he looks forward to going on a Thursday all week. It's just nice for the other children to see him be able to do something he loves."
