One of our own
Dylan Long
about Dylan
Dylan joined the BVFC family with his older brother Harrison in 2018. He joined the Saturday training first, then went onto the Academy where his love for football and playing with his team mates grew each week. He was so excited when he was picked to join the official U7’s Eagles and couldn’t wait to start playing ‘real matches’. However sadly in March 2020 Dylan suffered as seizure and in May 2020 was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour and given a few months to live.
However nothing stopped Dylan and his love for football – despite gruelling treatment he tried his best to go to as many training sessions as he could and each Saturday would come to support his team from the sideline – he was often thought of as the 3rd mini manager. Being part of BVFC gave Dylan something positive to focus on and the whole team always made him feel so welcome and despite not being able to play properly, he was always one of the team.
surrounded my his family. We will always remember him for his love of football, his favourite colour red and for how much he loved being part of BVFC. In March 2022 on what would have been Dylan’s 8th Birthday his family launched The Dylan Strong Foundation which gives children and their families nutritional advice and support.