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Anne-Marie Withers always had a strong passion for football. As a child, she went from watching Bend it Like Beckham and playing on the streets to being part of a successful team winning back-to-back trophies. But Anne-Marie had a bigger dream than winning titles.

Anne-Marie grew up with a stammer and football was the first place she found freedom, instilling a confidence which helped her to grow as a person and learn transferable skills.

While she was coaching youth age groups, players who stammered would share their experiences, which were similar to scenarios Anne-Marie  herself experienced at the same age. These conversations sparked the direction for her ongoing projects.

Last December, Anne-Marie was celebrated by FAW (Football Association of Wales) after participating in their BE. Football Mentoring Programme which supports women to progress their careers in football through one-to-one mentoring, workshops, and work experience opportunities. The programme aims to build participants’ confidence and aid their progression in football while developing the skills required to achieve their full potential.

This summer, her love of the game saw Anne-Marie named as the head coach for Wrexham-based inclusive football club Bellevue FC, becoming the first female head coach of a men’s senior football team in Welsh football history.

 

 

Anne-Marie takes up the story…

In recent years, all sports have made great strides toward becoming more inclusive and accessible. Yet one area that has often been overlooked is the experience of players with communication differences. Recognising this gap, in collaboration with STAMMA and the Football Association of Wales (FAW), we created The Grassroots Coaching Guide to Communication Differences, designed to equip coaches with the practical knowledge and tools needed to support individuals who experience communication differences.

This guide not only marks a significant step forward for football in Wales but also positions the FAW as a global leader in promoting such inclusivity within the game.

In my coaching role, I have been fortunate to engage in discussions and contribute to panels alongside many remarkable and inspiring individuals. Many of these discussions resulted in deep, thoughtful conversations, exploring how to diversify approaches and expand the reach of these positive changes, and open the conversation to people of all ages. Together, we have considered what this could look like for future generations, ensuring that inclusivity, representation, and accessibility remain at the heart of coaching and player development.

In football, we’re already breaking boundaries and rewriting the narrative. But true progress also means recognising the less visible barriers, like communication differences and working actively to remove them.

This starts with raising awareness and building environments where understanding and inclusion aren’t afterthoughts but are the foundation. By embedding support structures and normalising consideration for all forms of communication, we can ensure that every individual of every background and ability will feel seen, heard, and valued in our game. Here, our why – our vision – becomes clear, because when we create spaces where every voice belongs, we don’t just grow the game: we transform it.

Charlotte Fardon-Wood is a ten-year-old goalkeeper who concurs wholeheartedly. “Awareness is key. The more people that know about stammering, the more acceptable it will become. It’s just the way I speak. Allowing me the time and opportunity to introduce myself and the way I speak means that I’m in control of the introduction. I’ll feel more at ease, and you’ll be informed. I know everything there is to know about my stammer, so I will share with you what support I’d like from you when talking to me. Like wait for me to finish, and try not to interrupt!

“I would prefer to make my own decisions and let you know if I need your help, i.e. who, when and how I tell people. Some days I might want support and other times I won’t. But having an open discussion and ensuring reasonable adjustments are in place means that these are all decisions that are available to me, and mine to make.

“This guide will lead to better relationships between players, coaches and referees. It removes the apprehension and anxiety when meeting new people, joining a team or securing your place socially within a team. Stammering is just one small part of me, and I have so much more to give. Unless you give me the tools to succeed, we could all be missing out on so much. Let’s make these changes together and improve the world of sport for people who stammer!”

 

 

Future steps

The guide is a small but meaningful step toward protecting and shaping a bigger future that’s safe. A future that fosters an environment where everyone feels welcome and empowered to thrive. Opportunities are growing, and doors are continuously opening for women in football; but we must show them that it's not just OK to walk through those doors. It's their right. Every player also deserves the chance to thrive at any level that they choose, without the fear of judgement or limitation.

Research shows that equity can be improved when content and services are clearly aligned. By looking at the different circumstances an athlete may face during their time within the game and making small but effective adjustments, we can not only change society’s perception, but also an individual’s internalised perception and attitudes. This will help provide many more aspiring young athletes with the opportunity to reach their full potential, as well as avenues they never thought would be open to them.

Having already expanded and established ongoing collaborations with organisations such as the FAW, Welsh Rugby Union, Her Game Too and most recently with the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, I remain committed to driving this project forward, looking to provide training and improve current services, tackling areas such as ticket sales, customer service, stadium tours and event stewarding.

From the media, through to community coaching, I am fully committed to giving a voice and making room for people with communication differences within sport, taking the necessary steps to ensure much-needed change to provide equal opportunities.

You too can help us to be that difference. By meeting a need, you start a chain reaction. With education and small adaptations tailored to your organisation, you also prove to a far-wider demographic of people that it’s safe to take the leap, in any capacity they desire. Your action has the power to transform a life, a family, a community or an entire sport.

If you would like to learn more about Anne-Marie’s work, you can contact her via email at Withers34@outlook.com, on LinkedIn, or on Instagram and TikTok @annemarie__03.

Photos: Delwyn Derrick, Ashley Crowden and STAMMAFest

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