Nine-year-old Harrison Ogle is a devoted professional soccer fan, and was excited to play in his first match with a new youth team in Sheffield, England. He played goalkeeper during the preseason game — and became visibly upset as the competing team scored again and again on him until the final tally was 11-0.
His father, Allan Ogle, told him to ignore the score. But Ogle took note when his son became emotional: Harrison has faced a host of health and learning challenges in his short life and doesn't show his feelings readily, his father said.
So a few days after the Aug. 12 game, when Harrison was still feeling low, Ogle put together a compilation of his son's best saves during the game, posted it on Twitter, and hoped some friends might say an encouraging word.
He wrote: "He's overcome premature birth, swine flu, pneumonia and has educational challenges. Emotional for me to see my boy Harrison's debut in goal on Sunday for his new team. Lost 11-0. (video camera emoji) his saves to cheer him up, any support from footy fans please I'll show him"
"I was thinking that this will be some journey if we don't find a way to show some positivity," Ogle said in an interview with The Washington Post.