Future Star nominee – Liam Harrison

Future Star nominee – Liam Harrison

Teenager Liam Harrison has the chronic illness narcolepsy that causes him to fall asleep involuntarily but that hasn’t stopped him from giving up his free time to be a football coach for other youngsters.

The 15-year-old has been a coach with Chris Birchall’s Allstars Academy for two years, volunteering for six hours every weekend to teach four to 11-year-olds.

He also helps at a multi-sports session for two hours each week and has even become the coach of the Year Seven football team at his school, The Orme Academy in Wolstanton, leading them to victory at a tournament recently.

His proud mum, Kate Harrison, said: “Liam has been interested in football from when he was able to talk. It’s always been an obsession. He’s always been interested in the coaching side and can recite all the stats about various players.

“He’s been coaching since he was 11 and has been with Allstars Academy for nearly two years. Chris Birchall is always saying how much confidence Liam has and how well he’s doing.

“Liam wants to be a football coach for a living – he’d like to be the next Jose Mourinho! He’s keen to finish school and get a coaching job.”

Kate says she and husband Phil couldn’t be prouder of Liam’s achievements, particularly as he has been living with narcolepsy since the age of seven.

The chronic condition means that Liam never has REM sleep, is constantly tired and can fall asleep involuntarily including at school.

She added: “So many kids with narcolepsy don’t go to school at all or go to a special school. Liam is always in school unless he has a medical appointment. Not only that, he’s doing well and keeping up with studies for his GCSEs.”

Kate has nominated Liam in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.