Sophie's Story | Flyerz Hockey

Sophie has always enjoyed sports but because of her epilepsy and learning disability, it hasn’t been easy for her to fit into clubs and teams as they didn’t seem to have the understanding of disability in sports. 

Throughout her schooling she was always keen to be part of a team and play sport but the school’s she attended didn’t seem to facilitate or understand the benefit of disability sports. 

On many occasions she would find herself throughout her school years bullied as other pupils didn’t understand her epilepsy or learning disability.

Because of bullying and dealing with her epilepsy and learning disability she has suffered with mental health issues. 

Two years ago in 2023 Richard Gill of Harleston Magpies started Flyerz. Sophie was one of the founding members along with Ellie and Lydia. 

At some sessions in the beginning, Sophie would be the only flyer attending, she was always eager, and even with just one participant Flyerz would go ahead. 

She has attended 3 Flyerzfests, Lee Valley, Tunbridge Wells and New Malden and thoroughly enjoyed them all especially receiving a medal. 

The impact Flyerz has had on Sophie has been immense. 

At the beginning, the enjoyment was evident as Sophie enjoyed turning up for each session. Then Richard awarded the three girls t-shirts with individual numbers on. Sophie’s being No.5. Then they were invited to the magpies biannual ball. All of these events were first for Sophie. Her confidence was beginning to grow in hockey. 

Still having good and bad days with epilepsy and dealing with everyday living, hockey was the one constant in our lives. Again turning up to every session and event regardless of weather was great but to see her confidence building was brilliant. 

Then she was invited to an award evening and unbeknown to us won ‘the flyer of the year.’ A new trophy from magpies, because she attended every session from the beginning. We thought winning this trophy was the icing on the cake!

How much Flyerz had done for Sophie up to this moment was amazing. And Flyerz at Harleston was growing with new people coming along and giving hockey a go.

Then England hockey mentioned about the Special Olympics and a dream began to manifest in Sophie. Filling out forms and meeting the criteria was in some ways a double edged sword. Meeting the criteria reinforces that Sophie’s LD was of a level that she wasn’t going to be in mainstream and most of her dreams definitely wouldn’t be fulfilled. 

However, for Sophie her dream of maybe being in the Olympics one day was realised and more confidence grown. 

Then another opportunity to build more confidence was when she was selected to be a mascot for the professional women’s England hockey team at Lee Valley stadium. This again came through Flyerz. 

Then through a Flyerzfest, England hockey announced there would be training and hopefully selection at Bisham Abbey to play for England in the Euro Hockey Championships in Germany. Another unbelievable moment.

However, with someone who has a LD you have to explain that although they are training it doesn’t mean they’ve been selected. This is where learning disability can be hard. Their understanding. But as we’ve always said to Sophie, have a go and see where it leads and with hockey that has definitely been the case. 

Sophie was selected to play for England and the smile on her face said it all. The pride we felt at the news was palpable. We couldn’t believe that only 2 years ago in Aug 2023, Flyerz, at Harleston Magpies, held it's first session.

A year ago Sophie was in a very dark place with mental health issues due to medication prescribed for her epilepsy, and now in Aug 2025 she was selected to play for England. 

Seeing her walk out in the England kit, playing for our country in Germany was unbelievable, our hearts bursting with pride. 

But there was so much more for us; this was Sophie’s first time flying without us, first time staying in another hotel without us, making new and good friends who understand each other needs, experiencing events that she wouldn’t have done before. 

Without Flyerz all the above wouldn’t have happened and if I’m honest,  I’m not sure where we would be as a family but what I do know is that when Sophie was selected for England I thought her smile couldn’t get any bigger until they won the silver medal of their group, her face said it all. 

So if anyone is thinking about having a go at Flyerz, Sophie would definitely say YES give it a go! And us. 

I’d say it’s only 1 &1/2 hours every other Sunday, do give it a go. It could change their lives but it could also change yours as a family or carer lives too. 

As parents we can not thanks Flyerz and England Hockey enough. 

(From the perspective of Sophie's mum)