Growing up in Cardiff, the world was an overwhelming place to a young Sofie Bainbridge. While she and her family knew there was something different about the way her brain worked, the systems around her failed to recognise and meet her needs. School felt like a battlefield for her, and she was consistently told that she wouldn't achieve anything. The one place she felt a sense of calm was the football pitch and little did others know that something that they saw as a "condition" that would hold her back, would actually make her so in control on the pitch. For Sofie, football is her lifeline. Sofie, who is now 29 and living in Llanharan, was diagnosed with autism when she was 20 after years of being misdiagnosed and pushed aside. She also has ADHD, and says it was a "relief" to finally get this officially acknowledged, but added that the fight to get the diagnosis highlighted the lack of support given to young girls who were neurodiverse. While Sofie experienced prejudice as a child and continues to have to break down barriers, she has not let it hold her back. Despite finding school extremely difficult, she has gone on to achieve a first-class degree and is now a huge part of Llantwit Fadre FC Ladies & Girls, where she is speaking up about being neurodiverse in the hope it will help and connect with others. At school, Sofie was misunderstood and made to feel that she would never be successful. She explained that it simply wasn't a place that was designed for someone like her. "Growing up, I was constantly told I’d never achieve anything I was rejected, bullied, and dismissed by teachers who didn’t understand me. They said I wouldn’t amount to anything, that I’d never make it. School wasn’t just hard—it felt like a battlefield, and I wasn’t given the tools to win." During this time, Sofie was also misdiagnosed with ADHD, OCD, and ODD, which made everything more challenging for her. She described the moment she was finally diagnosed with autism as a "breakthrough". Sofie said: "My family had always said it was this but despite fighting and going to child commissioners they couldn’t get the assessment needed whilst I was a child. It was a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis though, but it also highlighted just how difficult it had been to navigate a world that didn’t fully understand my needs from the start. My whole life had been shaped by trying to fit into systems and expectations that were never designed for someone like me." Deciding that this "battle" at school simply wasn't right for her, Sofie left the traditional school system at year 8, but rather than giving up, she decided to teach herself and found a passion for photography. Like football, this became a focus for her. In her 20s, Sofie decided to go to university. She was told it was "too late" and that she was "too different" but again, she treated life like it was a game of football. Sign up to the Don't Take Me Home newsletter here. "I stuck to my game plan," Sofie said. "I stayed focused on the goal, adjusted when things got tough and kept pushing through. The late nights, the self-doubt, the pressure - it was all part of the match." Sofie graduated with a first class honours in photography, but to her it was far more than a degree. It was the ultimate "prove them wrong" moment. As well as her degree, Sofie is also proud of her footballing journey. Recently, Sofie has combined her two passions together and now runs the social media for Llantwit Fardre FC Ladies & Girls. She has been involved in the sport since she was a toddler and describes it as "the only world I've ever understood." "Football has always been my special interest, especially with my autism," Sofie said. "It's the only way I’ve ever been able to make sense of the world. Every challenge I’ve faced in life, I approach with a tactical mindset, much like I would a football match. "The strategy, the thinking on your feet, the way you have to adjust in real-time—football taught me how to manage life’s obstacles. I started playing as a young girl with Cardiff City Ladies, and from there, I moved to Cyncoed Ladies. Eventually, I was scouted to join the Welsh development team (now South Wales Regional Development). But even at that level, I struggled with performance anxiety and the pressure of perfectionism. My hyper-focus on my own performance became overwhelming, and at around 14, I stepped away from the game." While she stepped away from the game, her love for football never left her. She volunteered at the Cardiff City Foundation and two seasons ago, joined Cwm Welfare Ladies, taking a huge step towards getting her passion back. Sofie then decided to break away from Cwm Welfare and join a new women's team being created at Llantwit Fadre FC. "I was offered the opportunity to combine my love for football and my degree to launch the Llantwit Ladies & Girls socials and that is truly where my passion lies. What started as a small project quickly turned into something much bigger than we expected. In just 10 months, we've built the highest-followed grassroots ladies team in Wales, I think." Last month, to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Sofie, followed by some other players, used the team's social media to share their stories about what football and being neurodiverse meant to them in a bid to break down barriers and make everyone feel welcome. Sofie wrote: "To me football isn't just a passion; it's my lifeline. I've been in and around football since I was a toddler, and it’s the only world I’ve ever understood. Growing up, the world was a chaos of sensory overload, overwhelming social situations and a world I couldn't decipher. "Football, however, was different. The clear lines of the pitch, the patterns of play, the focused intensity of the game – it is my world. It was where I find order in the chaos. Football isn't just a game for me; it's a language, a way of connecting with others without the need for endless small talk and confusing social niceties. The structured environment, the focus on specific skills, the rhythm of the game – it's a perfect fit for my neurodiverse brain. It’s my zone!" Sofie explained that she was speaking out to make a difference for the next generation of female footballers. "I want to inspire young girls to dream bigger and know they have a place in the game, regardless of the challenges they face. Through my work with the Llantwit Fardre FC Ladies & Girls, I’m pushing for equality, visibility, and inclusivity for all. "I believe that by creating a supportive and understanding environment, we can change the way female footballers are viewed and give them the confidence to reach their full potential. My club fully supports these efforts, and I’ve poured my heart and soul into making a difference. "As an autistic person, the hours I’ve dedicated to this season are remarkable to me, but what matters most is that I’m finally doing what I’ve always wanted—making a real impact, not just for myself, but for the future of the game I love. The club supports numerous neurodiverse players, their inclusivity and approach to equality to the female game is not something you see enough of and that needs celebrating."