Liverpool Football Club fan who could lose his sight sees dream come true

Yasar Atta, 16, of Scholemoor, Bradford, said it was a “dream come true” to visit Anfield, where he stood on the Kop, had a look around changing rooms and trophy rooms, touched the famous ‘This is Anfield’ sign in the tunnel and met staff.

The trip was made possible by Scholemoor Beacon in partnership with the youth service in the area.

Matthew Milnes, development worker at Scholemoor Sport and Recreation Project, said: “Yasar is a massive Liverpool fan.

"It made his day – he really enjoyed it. It was a dream come true for him.

“He could potentially be fully blind in the next 12 months or two years, so he was really thankful to get to Anfield before he loses his sight.”

Unfortunately, Liverpool’s players were in training and unable to meet lifelong red Yasar, who is in the sixth form at Thornton Grammar School.

On arranging the visit, Mr Milnes said: “A couple of months back we approached Liverpool and they were happy to come on board. They even got Yasar a signed photograph from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

“We are hoping to work with Liverpool Community Foundation for future trips. They have been brilliant.”

Mr Milnes, who said Yasar currently has about 30 or 40 per cent vision, continued: “We have worked with Yasar since he was about nine or ten.

"It was only when he was about 14 that he started to have problems with his eyes. Before that he was fine and had full vision. He wasn’t born with any problems. It just came out of the blue.”

Yasar was born with spina bifida and could be having an operation to put his spine right soon.

“As workers we look up to him because it is quite remarkable that he is such a positive young man,” said Mr Milnes. “He is still very outgoing despite his condition. He still gets involved in sports sessions.

“He is a role model for other young people – he has got lots going on but he gets on with it.

“He is always smiling, and takes the mickey out of people and out of himself.”