Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Klopp’s letter to bullied schoolboy: You’ll Never Walk Alone
Liverpool boss sends Luke, 9, a teddy bear and words of support
A YOUNG boy bullied for being a little different has received a teddy and letter of support from Jurgen Klopp.
And the Liverpool manager told Luke Carey-boyle he would “never walk alone” now he had the backing of the club.
The nine-year-old was overwhelmed by the gift to his Dunboyne, Co Meath home last Friday after dad Oliver canvassed the Premier League boss.
He has had to find his feet in a new school for special needs in Navan which he started in September.
Oliver’s heart was breaking as his son asked if he had a disability after hearing it from other kids while out playing so the caring dad decided to show his son
how loved and important he really is. He said: “Oliver has sensory processing disorder, which is mild to severe learning difficulties, and he can struggle to reach the same levels as others his age.
“His school in Dunboyne has always been amazing but we knew it would be unfair to Luke and everyone to let him struggle on in mainstream education and we were extremely lucky to secure a place in Navan.
“Change for him is a big deal. So on top of telling him he’s changing school, he gets bullied by kids and is devastated and wants to know why no one will play with him.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking to hear Luke ask me and his mum Caitriona if he has disabilities. He is such a terrific boy and so loving and helpful with his four-month-old brother Ben. Some days, he feels really down and when this happened, I got the idea of writing to Jurgen Klopp with our story, not really thinking I’d hear back.
“I’m a huge Liverpool fan and so is Luke. Then it arrived and we couldn’t believe it. Luke was delighted.
“Jurgen is an absolute gentleman and just pure class to send him this. It makes him realise that he is normal and no one is made the same.
“We are all unique and special and I think he is starting to slowly believe in himself.
“Sometimes, all it takes is a small message from a hero or a leader to make all the difference in a little boy’s life.”
The letter addressed to Luke read: “Firstly, I hope you don’t mind me writing to you. I just want to let you know that everyone in the Liverpool family is supporting you right now.
“That is obviously a lot of people and there are times when I stop and think about how many people are supporting the players and myself, it can blow my mind a little bit but the fact that we all stick together is what makes this club really special.
“I hope that on this occasion they will not mind that I speak for them when I say that we are all with you.
“This isn’t just a saying either, it is something that really matters.
“When I hear my players talk about what helps them when times are tough, one of the things they all say is that the backing of the club and the supporters make a real difference.
“The other thing they say is their own family matters more than anyone. I probably don’t need to say this to you, though, because I have been told that you have a brilliant family around you.
“I have enclosed a teddy bear. I hope you like it. You’ll never walk alone.”
Jurgen is an absolute gentleman and just pure class OLIVER CAREY-BOYLE CO MEATH YESTERDAY