Spotlight on Zoe Harvey

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I was first diagnosed with a Visual Impairment back in 2009 and this has progressively got worse. I’m now at the point where I have 12.5% vision across both eyes.

I am a mum of 4 who got involved in grassroots football back in 2021 when my son’s football team needed a new coach (similar to many other grassroots coaches!)

Roll on 3 years and I now coach a PAN disability team for Histon Hornets which is just about to celebrate its 2nd birthday!

I’ve been fortunate in my coaching career to achieve some massive accomplishments including,

• Cambridge United foundations community engager of the year 2022
• Cambs FA disability pathway coach or the year 2023
• BBC radio Cambridgeshire’s ‘make a difference’ award in the Together Category 2023

With the volunteering I do as a grassroots coach I’ve been able to appear on many news TV, radio shows and podcasts to raise awareness and talk to the community about my passion and inclusion football.

I am incredibly proud of my team and club and the success they have achieved including their first trophy back in June 2023 and they have an opportunity to be two league winners this season.

At Histon Hornets Inclusive we prides ourselves on being a fully inclusive team with players having a varying range of physical and neurological needs.

My personal dreams for the future include giving many more players the chance to play that they may not have normally had,

Helping other grassroots clubs achieve what we have achieved and spreading the word about how great inclusion football is.

Things I am looking forward to this year on a personal level are:

• Being invited to Buckingham palace to attend a royal garden party
• Being a judge and presenter of this years BBC radio Cambridge shires awards.

Things I am looking forward to achieving with my team are

• Winning some more title trophies and seeing how they all take pride in this.
• Getting them out playing more football in different environments.
• Launching our inclusive element to Histon Hornets grassroots tournament.

As an ex-player I’ve also been able to achieve some amazing things in the last few years which include:

• being on the England talent pathway for blind football
• Visiting the commonwealth games as a VIP athlete
• Playing in an amazing venue in Italy
• Training at the home of English football St. George’s park.

Since making the transition from player to coach full time my life has become a lot busier but a lot happier and I am fortunate to still have some wonderful opportunities in this role.

What drives me to do what I do is not only the joy I see it bring to others I help but my children.

“I want my children to feel proud of their mummy for breaking down barriers and challenging perceptions of what football is and who has a place within it.”

I want my children to grow up knowing everyone has value and can contribute to making the world a better place no matter how big or small that it.

Football has saved my life in more ways then people know and has given me my purpose back after being ill health retired back in 2013.

Coaching a neurodiverse football team

Listen to the Q&A with Dr Deborah Leveroy or read about Zoe’s coaching journey