CONOR FELSTEAD

Hi my name is Conor and thank you for taking the time to visit my cause page.

Since before I could walk I have been football crazy. I have played since I was 5 years old back in Oakley, Bedfordshire in the UK where I lived. Not long before we moved to New Zealand in November 2001 my parents were approached by Cambridge UTD FC regarding the possibility of me attending their youth academy. My Dad and I joined Hibiscus Coast AFC not long after we arrived on NZ soil and my Dad still plays for them, in an ‘ole farts’ team to this day ;-) sorry Dad. HBCAFC holds a special place in my journey.

A Birkenhead boy through & through having played for them since 2009. When I’m back in NZ I play with the Reserve team and we’ve just won the 2014 season with me finishing up top goal scorer.

I took the opportunity offered me to attend Pulse Football Academy UK in its foundation year 2012, having attended a UK tour with them in October of 2011. I graduated from Pulse & Tomlinscote College SCL in May 2014 with a 4 year Soccer Scholarship offer to attend OCU, Indiana in the U.S. from August 2014, where I will also be studying a Bachelor of Science majoring in Physical Education and Sport/Health (Teaching).

My Dream is to have a professional playing career.To do, day in day out, what I believe I was put on this earth to do and what I’m most passionate about. When that 'Season' is over I want to be able to give back in many different ways, especially to youth and youth sports.

I’m settling into life on campus at OCU and am very excited about the year ahead. Many sacrifices have been made along the way by me and my family to enable me to pursue my dream, they are my biggest Fans, which is very humbling and I'm so grateful for they're support. We have done lots of fundraising over the years, but this is huge, hence the reason for my cause page.

From Mum & Dad

Conor has achieved a Soccer/Football Scholarship to attend OCU, Indiana from August 2014. He left home in March 2012 aged 16 to go to the UK, attending Pulse Football Academy for 2 ½ years and has sacrificed a great deal from a young age, as any aspiring athlete knows that goes with the territory. He now has the opportunity through his scholarship to achieve his dream of having a professional playing career and gaining a Teaching degree in Physical Education & Sport. The majority of fees/costs throughout the years have been covered by his family and fundraising efforts, but there are still a lot of costs that need to be covered to complete the next four years. Mum and Dad, sister Niki and Conor are planning individual fundraising campaigns over this time as well as setting up this fundraising cause with Givealittle. We hope you are able to help this very talented, dedicated and determined footballer, we are very proud of what he's achieved so far and the young man he has become……Ultimately he wants to make a difference in the world through his achievements on and off the football pitch.