12-year-old boy born without forearm is now star goalkeeper of a football team

While others stop an approaching football goal with both their arms, Leeds’ Wayde Drew manages to get the job done, singlehandedly. 

12-year-old Drew was born without a left forearm after his mother suffered swine flu-related complications during pregnancy, according to a report by Metro. 

Undeterred by his physical disability, the pre-teen has been chasing his passion for football and is a stellar player and goalkeeper in his local football team. 

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Wayde’s fascination for the sport began at an early age, according to his mother Kirsty Norman. 

“He’s always played football from being little, and he’s got an older brother who loves it. But at school when he plays football, the kids want to win, don’t they? So they automatically think because he’s only got one arm, he’s going to be a rubbish goalkeeper, so they don’t let him play in goal,” Kristy told Metro. 

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Two years ago, Wayde set foot on a lush green ground for his first practice session with Saxton FC, a local community football team. 

 “He’s always been a bit worried about joining a team, because obviously he’s a goalkeeper, and people assume that he’s got to have two hands to be a goalkeeper,” his mother said.

“But at Saxon FC, when he said he’d prefer being in goal, they were just like: “Yeah, okay.” They’ve given him that chance, and he’s shown them that he is really good in goal – so that’s now his position at Saxon FC,” she added. 

To help its ace player, Saxton FC has set up a fundraiser of £13,000 for Drew’s new bionic ‘hero’ arm. 

“It would mean everything to him to have this new arm as he’s at the point where, in his words, he “just wants to be the same as everybody else,” Kirsty added.