It should have been a memorable occasion in his fledgling career as the highly-rated Ethan Holt stepped out at Kenilworth Road, home of FA Premier League outfit, Luton Town, in the final of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup.
The teenager’s goals had already helped AFC Dunstable secure their place in the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central play-offs and now he was looking to play his part in adding some silverware for the talented young side.
In football, fortunes can change in the blink of an eye and that was the case on this particular April evening.
“I went in for a challenge and just landed awkwardly,” Holt explains. “It was no-one’s fault, just one of those things, but I tore my ACL and after recently getting the scan results, I’ve received the news that no footballer wants to hear; I need surgery.
“Finding out that I may not be able to play football for a year, possibly longer, is, naturally, a huge set-back for me. My life revolves around the game, both playing and coaching, so to not be able to play and also to limit the amount of coaching I am able to do is a double-whammy.
“It also means that my two sources of income have been affected. To go through the NHS, the waiting list is two years. The alternative is for a private operation, the cost of which is beyond what my family and I can afford, so a Go Fund Me page has been set up to assist with the costs.
“Any donations would help make a huge difference to my future. I have the hunger, drive and correct mindset to get back into action, regardless of how long it takes me to return to the pitch. I have belief in my own ability and I know that these next few years are going to be so important in my career.
“The injury came at an awful time; I was playing well, scoring goals and getting attention from clubs at higher levels. It also meant that I missed the last couple of games of the season and the play-off semi-final, which was a big blow, of course.
“I am confident that I can pick up where I left off and I am facing this with a positive attitude.”
We wish Ethan well with his surgery and the road to recovery thereafter. His performances lit up Division One Central this season.
If you are able to make a donation, the Go Fund Me page can be found HERE
IMAGE: AFC Dunstable
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