Former Brentford academy player Asher Wreschner Joined Rapha Maurer to discuss how personal medical issues prevented him from fulfilling his footballing dreams.
The current University student is 20 years old and after a long journey is trying to “reinvent” himself back into football in any way he can.
Asher was released from Brentford’s academy at 13 shortly after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.
Wreschner explained that” I was there from 8 years of age and at 13 things were bad meaning I had to temporarily stop playing, eventually leading to me being released from the club”.
The cruel nature of football is on full display and can be exhibited throughout any stage of your career regardless of age.
on Whether this was the biggest setback in his life, Wreschner conveyed the mental state the situation left him in.
” Definitely was a massive setback, despite physically being able to play football again shortly after my diagnosis, I was never able to pick myself up and regain the confidence in myself to play professionally which was tough to accept”.
The physical and mental battle to make it as a professional is something that players have to endure for years and in this case, Asher feels that the opportunity was “taken from him”.
Lastly, Wreschner highlighted how kids now facing the same adversity as he did should always continue to fight.
” Setbacks are often temporary, they do not define you or your career path. I let myself get into a position where there was no way back which is one of my biggest regrets”
Asher is now accepting of his situation and does not let his disease play into his every day life. Playing football again casually for university has “reimbursed” his love for the game.
Link to audio interview below.
Stream audio interview by Raphamaurer1 | Listen online for free on SoundCloud
