'It's the embodiment of all foster carers and every grassroots football coach and volunteer. It's more about representing those two really hard-working elements of our communities.'
52-year-old foster carer Jo Newby at the unveiling of a statue in central London, which was created in her honour. Ms Newby founded a new team after realising that there was not an FA accredited competitive football league for disabled under 16's, like her son Casper, 14, to play in. She originally took Casper in as a foster child at 18 months old before adopting him and said he is"football mad".
Ms Newby said:"I never really realised that standing rain soaked, freezing and covered in mud and washing sweaty kit would be so rewarding, but it really is. There are thousands of people across the country that do that week in, week out, for other people's children and they deserve recognition. Because I think a lot of the parents who access this football will forget that actually, we are not paid, none of those people are paid, they are doing it out of love.
Ms Newby sleeps only two or three hours a night because of her duties as a foster mother but says she is"in her element" when looking after and helping children. She said:"Fostering starts off as a job but it becomes a lifestyle. Every time the house is empty, I try to convince myself that it's time to kick back a bit, put my feet up, maybe do a bit of decorating or have a holiday. But within a few weeks when I have done those things, or sometimes within a few days and I am ready to go again."
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