Izzy G ACL Reconstruction and rehab

My name is Izzy Griffiths, and I’m hoping that in setting up this page and sharing some of my journey I can hopefully raise the funds for an ACL reconstruction surgery.

I’ve just turned 14 years of age and I am passionate footballer currently playing for Wigan Athletic LWA under 14s and Crewe Alexandra ETC. I have four brothers three of which younger than me and who play football for Cromwell Athletic and Eagle football clubs in Warrington.

Following Covid and after trying a number of different hobbies I once again approached my parents about the possibility of taking up football. Since a young age I always enjoyed kicking a ball about, my parents decided to let me give it a go and we started looking for a local team!! I was around 7 or 8 years of age at the time. I joined Cromwell Athletic Girls Team in Warrington.

I took to the game like a natural and together with an amazing group of players (and coaches) found we were starting to win!!! Initially playing at the back I was moved into midfield, the position I still play in today. I was consistently receiving praise from my coaches and during a cup final I was playing in, a Manchester United scout who was there to watch a boys game, approached my dad and suggested that I should trial for a professional club, I started to believe in myself and that maybe I did have something! A few months later and during a three day football camp at Liverpool FC Academy my dad was approached and asked who I played for, the coach saying that he was going to contact the LFC women’s development coach, I had a natural ability, was strong and technically gifted. Fast forward six months and after a brief spell at Chester Football Club and joining an additional Saturday league team for Liverpool Feds, I attended trials at Liverpool FC emerging talent centre, where I was selected to join, having regular reviews as to my progress, and receiving praise in terms of my drive and strength with the ball. I was consistently receiving positive feedback from the coaches and received an official written invite to train with the academy team, (little did I know that chance would never come due to my injury.)I was so excited and believed that this was my opportunity to show what I could really do. I decided to attend one of Liverpool FC player development sessions, which was a midweek session at Sutton Leisure my brother was going and I thought the extra training would do me good and seeing it as additional opportunity to train and in preparation to playing with the academy team. Probably the worst decision I could’ve made as it was on this session I sustained my injury. I went in for a tackle and felt my knee twist, hearing a popping sound and being in severe pain, I was helped off the pitch with the assistance of my dad, with reassurance from the coach that he didn’t think it was anything too serious. Once the swelling had subsided, I was reviewed by a physiotherapist who said that they believed it was a strain to the meniscus, there was no need for a scan, and I would be out of football for just a few weeks, I can remember the relief and being thankful it wasn’t too serious.

My parents were still concerned due to the instability in my knee and decided to book me in with GP and following many months waiting for consultant appointments and MRI I discovered, (and to the astonishment of my consultant) that I had actually during that session in April torn my ACL, and had been playing and training on it ever since, the strength in my legs being the only reason why I hadn’t injured myself further. The advice now being that I could no longer take part in activities which involve twisting or pivoting and definitely no football!!! I felt like my world had fallen apart, football is everything to me. The consultant explained to me that the NHS waiting time is currently around 12 months maybe longer and then possibly another 12 months to recover.

I feel that this time is the most crucial yet in terms of my development and football career, I am currently playing for Wigan Athletic LWA. This is a club managed by Kevin Spencer and I have been really lucky in being able to perform to a very high standard here, being in a great position in the North West Girls Super League and in two cup competitions. I have wonderful team mates and a really good togetherness with them all. I want to progress with Wigan as high and for as long as I can.

I am also part of Crewe Alexandra ETC managed by Matt Fisher. I really enjoy the training and game sessions here too, I’m learning a lot.

My dream is to one day play professionally, which I honestly believe I am capable of. So…. I have set up this GO FUND ME page in the hope that you may be able to give whatever you can to support me in my journey, We have been given the cost of treatment privately and have been told that this will be just over £8500.

So if you can please help me and donate whatever you can so I am able to speed up the whole process and fund private treatment and hopefully be back to fitness for the next coming season, I’m extremely proud of my achievements so far in football but I know I can achieve much much more. I am a driven and determined person, this CAN’T be the end for me… IF ANYONE CAN DO THIS I CAN !!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this …. Izzy G xx