KIND hearted footballers have got together to help out a teammate’s teenage nephew who survived as a baby against all the odds.

They are staging a charity match to raise funds to bring a bit of fun to Tyler Stone’s life.

The mother of Tyler, 15, were told he wouldn’t live past 48 hours after he was born prematurely.

But Tyler defied medical opinion, although he has cerebral palsy and is epileptic and is a wheelchair user.

His mum and full-time carer, Claire Gamlin, who lives with Tyler and his brother Brandon, 13, in Lambrook, Taunton, said: “He’s a little fighter and a right character.

“He wasn’t expected to survive 48 hours when he was born.

“He can’t walk unaided but can do a couple of steps with a walker.

“He can’t feed himself and I need to give him physio every night.

“He speaks with a special talking aid. But despite everything he’s a normal happy teenager.”

Tyler, who attends Selworthy School, will manage one of the two teams, Tyler Titans, in the match against Taunton Warriors later this month, when Brandon will be playing.

Claire said: “My brother, Clive, turned up at training one day and his teammates said they’d seen a post on Facebook about Tyler and wanted to do something to help, so decided on the charity match.

“I want to say a big thank you to them. Any money they raise will go towards buying Tyler an adapted swing for the garden and some special toys - he wants a water pistol so he can soak Brandon.

“They’re typical brothers. They get on very well, but like other boys they have their disagreements.

“As well as football, he loves watching wrestling.

“It’s limited what he can do, so the toys he gets will be a great help.”