Meet the 11 year old boy seizing his opportunity at AFC Fylde

Santos came to the UK as an asylum seeker in 2018. After three long years he was reunited with his family and his youngest son Kedrin has been given the opportunity to play for AFC Fylde's under 12's

Imagine being forced to leave your home and start a new life in another country, well for Santos Crysantus this became a reality in 2018 when he fled his home country to seek asylum in the UK.

Santos is from Cameroon a country in Central Africa which has been locked in a state of civil war for over seven years in a conflict known as the Anglophone crisis.

Santos was granted leave to remain in 2021 and after three long years of separation was able to reunite with his wife and three boys Kerry, Kessie and Kedrin. Now building their new lives in the UK, AFC Fylde is helping create opportunities for his youngest son Kedrin.

It was in St Anne’s just two days after they arrived in the UK that Santos discovered his son’s passion for football.

“The first two days they were here, they invited us as a family to go for a picnic on St Anne’s beach.” He said.

“I saw them playing football, especially Kedrin he was so good, and Kerrie and Kessie all of them were interested in the football.”

The boys were given their first chance to play at Sir Tom Finney FCs Soccer Centre in Preston.

Kedrin who was nine at the time quickly impressed despite not owning any kit or boots. The club recognised his talent and he was selected to Sir Tom Finney’s under 10s. After scoring two goals in his first game his coach bought him new boots.

Since then he has risen up the age groups seeing two promotions and now 11 is currently in the under-12s with his team top of their league.

His success with Sir Tom Finney hadn’t gone unnoticed and in the summer of 2023, he was presented with an amazing opportunity.

“It was after his team went up to the championship,” Santos said.

“One of the parents was a scout for Fylde, he spoke about Kedrin to the Fylde management and they okay if that’s the case, they should invite us and he could go to the trials.”

The chance to try out for AFC Fylde of an exciting prospect for Kedrin but Santos admits it was a tough process.

“So he went in for the trials, it was a six-week process,” he said.

“Kedrin went in trained well, played well and in a friendly game he scored a good goal.

“During the training, you could see the coaches pointing and talking about Kedrin.”

Kedrin was successful and signed a 1-year contract to play for AFC Fylde’s under-12s.

The chance to play for Fylde is giving Kedrin the opportunity to learn from professional coaches and to play against teams from across the north of England.

 Kedrin trains with Fylde on Fridays as well as his commitments with Sir Tom Finney FC.

He told me what he enjoys about playing for Fylde.

“It’s easier to make friends.” He said.

“In the games, they give you the opportunity to try the positions that you really like.

“But if there’s another striker, they will make you play other positions to make you better in other positions.”

 For Santos couldn’t be prouder of his son’s achievement, he told me.

“I was happy as a parent because I’ve been supporting him.

“I’m so glad for him because he’s so passionate about the game, he enjoys the game he loves the game.”

With his love of football and the opportunity he has been given to develop and nurture his talent, hopefully a bright future beckons as Kedrin, Santos and the rest of the family build their new lives in the UK.