Michael Owen opens up on his son’s incurable situation

For James Owen, being the son of former England striker Michael has include pure expectations and a recurring query: ‘Do you wish to be a footballer like your dad?’

James performed the sport throughout his childhood and confirmed indicators of promise, however his dream of turning into knowledgeable turned inconceivable when he was recognized with Stargardt illness on the age of eight.

Stargardt is a uncommon genetic situation which happens when fatty materials builds up on the macula – the small a part of the retina wanted for sharp, central imaginative and prescient. There is presently no treatment.

James’ sight received progressively worse by means of his teen years and he’s now ‘clinically’ blind.

‘People do anticipate me to be going into soccer and I did used to essentially to take pleasure in it,’ James, now 17, tells Mail Sport.

‘But it was getting to a degree the place it was too troublesome to know the place the ball was.

‘I misplaced the enjoyment out of it often because I wished to be the very best.’

It isn’t just James who has to cope with being quizzed over his soccer potential.

‘It’s most likely the worst query, not that I ever present it or say it to anyone,’ Michael Owen tells Mail Sport.

‘You end up both having to make an excuse or say he is not and folks take a look at you and say ‘he is not fascinated with soccer?’ Then it’s important to clarify every part and you find yourself in a dialog you do not actually wish to have with anyone.

‘When somebody comes as much as you within the pub and says ‘does your son play?’ you simply wish to change the topic. That’s most likely been the toughest factor through the years. James most likely wasn’t having fun with soccer as a lot as he ought to have been as a result of he wasn’t pretty much as good as he ought to have been.

‘When he was very younger and his eyes had been most likely barely higher than they’re now and the pitches had been smaller and every part was loads nearer so he may see the ball higher, he was very, superb. I mentioned to my dad and my spouse and everybody ‘he is received a proper likelihood right here of being a footballer’. But then as quickly as he received recognized, he simply type of step by step stopped. He coped with it nicely.’

James speaks with an intelligence of a younger man who maybe needed to develop up extra rapidly than different kids.

‘When soccer wasn’t doable, I wished to search out one thing various,’ he says.

‘For some time I did not, however now I wish to have my very own enterprise and supply for my future household years.

‘I was much more emotional about it [the condition], I used to let it establish me extra.

‘When I used to be youthful I type of felt sorry for myself actually. I believed ‘why me? I am unable to drive, I am unable to do that.’ But me being upset about it is not going to alter something so I would as nicely crack on.’

Owen snr smiles at James’ comment, joking his son ‘sounds identical to me’ together with his optimistic way of living. But the previous striker admits that their journey has include struggles.

‘You simply wish to take all of it away from them, you need you to have the issue and never them,’ he provides.

‘You simply do not just like the considered what the long run may maintain. At first, you take a look at all of the negatives. He will not be capable to drive, he will not be capable to do that and that. What jobs can he have? There’s nonetheless issues that upset you now. I need him to have the ability to do all of the issues that everyone else does. He just about does, simply with a couple of little alterations.

‘It wasn’t simple in any respect. The poor little lad had to enter hospital each two minutes and needed to lie there being courageous whereas getting issues shoved in his eye. His eyes can be stinging and he’d be screaming [in pain]. You simply suppose ‘why?’

‘But I’ve performed many a hospital go to in my time and seen a number of folks which are much less lucky so it’s important to put all of it into perspective. We crack on with life and have a good time.

‘I take the positives out of every part. I’ve received loads to be pleased with as a result of he is grown as much as be an excellent lad.

‘Him being like he’s, I simply suppose ‘you already know what, I’m going to have a son that I’m most likely even nearer to’. He will not be capable to drive, good, I’ll be his taxi for all times! It can be nice if he may see completely and hopefully at some point he’ll be capable to.’

Owen and his son are hoping to lift consciousness of Stargardt’s and different eye circumstances by means of their new documentary Football is For Everyone, which is able to premiere on TNT Sports on January 30.

The documentary, which they current, delves into the world of sight loss and soccer and gives an intimate and provoking take a look at the England Partially Sighted Futsal Team as they equipped for the 2023 IBSA World Games.

‘James has by no means actually met folks with a watch situation like his so to have the ability to go to those camps and to speak to them has been fairly useful,’ Owen says.

‘For the folks in James’ place, hopefully it offers them just a little little bit of hope. Something to say ‘have you learnt what, simply because I’m much less lucky than my neighbour it does not imply that I can go and do issues in life.’ I hope it is fairly inspirational from that standpoint. Those of us who’re luckier and are nice in our well being, hopefully it spikes the aware just a little bit.’

For James, he hopes the documentary offers hope to others who’re simply being recognized with circumstances like Stargardt’s.

‘I wish to unfold consciousness. I loved discovering a neighborhood of people who I can relate to. I feel for lots of people who may need been in the identical state of affairs as me of wanting to enter soccer and for that to finish up being inconceivable, I would love them to know that [playing] continues to be an possibility.’

‘Football is for Everyone’ starring Michael and James Owen premieres on TNT Sports 1 at 11pm on thirtieth January. Sign as much as TNT Sports and discovery+ right here