Eight-year-old prodigy accepted into Arsenal Academy

Leah Pearson is “forever grateful” for what football has meant for her daughter Poppy, who suffers from Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH).

Despite this, Poppy, 8, has been able to showcase her talents with a football enough to be accepted into one of the premier football academies in the world.

Leah says that her daughter’s football career began “completely on a whim” when one of Poppy’s friends started playing and Poppy wanted to join in.

Poppy at her most recent hospital visit (Image: Leah Pearson)

Poppy began at a non-competitive local team, then started playing for the Wiltshire Regional Talent Centre at county level.

Poppy plays in the age bracket above her own at the Talent Centre and will start playing for the Arsenal Academy on September 5, with her determined to get her to the practice ground in Hertfordshire every week.

"From the first match she scored something like 6 goals”, said Leah.

“Football isn’t a massive thing with girls, especially at schools. Poppy only plays football outside of school.

Poppy mid-game (Image: Leah Pearson)

“There have been a few times where Poppy’s looked at herself thinking ‘should I be doing this?’, ‘am I good enough to do this?’ because of slight little comments that have come from boys especially.

However, Poppy hasn’t let these doubts stop her, winning ‘Player of the Year’ at Marlborough Youth, ‘Player of the Quarter' at the Regional Talent Centre, and several medals along the way.

Leah said that Poppy’s condition, which affects her adrenal glands, can end her up in the hospital for anywhere between 24 hours and 2 weeks after she was diagnosed within a few days of her birth.

Poppy takes medication four times a day and her mother worries when sickness bugs go around, as Poppy can struggle to keep her meds down.

 “When Poppy’s ill, her body goes into what they call an adrenal crisis which will cause her body to shut down, and she needs medical intervention pretty quick," she said.

“She gets really annoyed when she can’t play football, but she’s very aware that it’s her health, you can’t mess about with it.

Poppy (left) pictured with Fulham player Mia Adaway (Image: Leah Pearson)

“But she’s one those who can’t really be told ‘you’re not doing this’.

"It’s completely changed her personality in the sense that she’s very sociable with her teammates, and she’s a lot more open to do new things."