How football fanatic's 'dream came true' with club role

Old Trafford may be known as the Theatre of Dreams, but for Jonathan Fillis the Showgrounds at Coleraine FC is the place were his "dream came true".

The 31-year-old, who has a learning disability, volunteers at the football club shop every week, and often calls in on match days.

He's one of 700 people who have been placed in various roles by the Northern Trust's Day Opportunities programme.

"I wanted to work in a sport shop and I always said I'd like to work in Coleraine [FC]," he said.

"I just enjoy meeting people and chatting with people and talking about [the club] and how we're doing."

The football fan has been volunteering every week since 2024 and has been described as "part of the fabric" at the Showgrounds.

Jonathan's family said his growing confidence and independence highlights the need for people with learning disabilities to be supported in work and socialising.

But the charity Mencap, which supports people with learning disabilities, said similar opportunities are "not consistent across all of Northern Ireland and it's very dependent on the geographical area".

Over the past 15 years, Jonathan has been supported to attend college and has volunteered in a café and charity shops.

For the last 18 months he's been working alongside Scott Smyth, Coleraine FC's retail and ticket manager.

Scott said Jonathan brought "a real buzz" to the club.

"He is well known down there with the first team and the first team manager. Everybody looks out for Jonathan."

The Northern Trust's Day Opportunities Service began 20 years ago and aims to support adults with a learning disability access paid employment, volunteering, social enterprise schemes and recreational activities.

A trust spokesperson said more than 700 service users are "living full and meaningful lives" through their initiatives.

Jonathan's brother Stephen Fillis is a Day Opportunities coordinator who helps support people on the scheme.

He said his relationship with Jonathan helped him help other families find support and opportunities in the community.

Stephen said it has given Jonathan "the chance to explore what he likes and live the life that he wants to live".

"He's reached independence which, when he was that young kid leaving school, I probably didn't see it coming," he added.

"My parents probably never thought that would ever happen."

Jonathan and Stephen's dad Dougie Fillis said the Day Opportunities support has been "a lifeline".

"In school, Jonathan had been in the same class with the same 10 people for nine years so it was a big upheaval in his life to be going out into the big new world."

Dougie said before the support, someone had to be with Jonathan every time he left the house but now he gets the bus into town on his own.

"It released a bit of tension for us knowing that Jonathan could go out and about. He gets to know everybody."

Without the scheme Dougie said Jonathan would be in the house most of the time.

"This gets him out and about in the community and getting to know people.

"If we were in Coleraine Showgrounds and there are 3,000 people in the ground, he might know 2,999 and by the time he leaves the ground he will know the other one," Dougie added.

He said it highlighted the need for people with learning disabilities to be supported in finding employment opportunities.

Karen Gilgunn, from Mencap Northern Ireland, said not everyone with a learning disability has access to the same opportunities and some "can be very socially isolated."

"It's fantastic to see opportunities for people like Jonathan coming forward and it's really important that people with learning disabilities feel included within their society."

She added that gaps in support needed to be identified to help combat isolation.

"We all have the right to go to work, we all have the right to be included and live our lives to the fullest," she added.