‘Altrincham Football Club has given me everything after fleeing Ukraine war’
A budding footballer has said he had lost all hope of realising his sporting dream when war broke out in his home country, Ukraine.
Vlad Shtyhilan's ambition to become a professional footballer seemed in real doubt as he fled Ukraine with his family when the conflict began nearly three years ago.
But the 18-year-old, who was 16 at the time of the Russian invasion, has since signed a youth contract at Altrincham Football Club and has played with the first team regularly.
He said the club had "given him everything".
Vlad, who lives in Altrincham, Trafford, recalls how his life was very different not so long ago.
