Ukrainian teen to play final match before going home

A Ukrainian boy who has lived in Derbyshire for three years will play his final football match in the county later before flying back to his home country on Monday.

Ivan, now aged 13, was brought to Alfreton by his mum Viktoriia in December 2022 to escape the warfare they witnessed in Kyiv.

In that time Ivan went from knowing little-to-no English to speaking it fluently, and has become a "popular member" of Alfreton Town Juniors FC.

His mother said: "I made the decision last year that we should return, mostly because of [Ivan], after three years he needs his dad, and I need my family back."

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Ivan and Viktoriia initially left their home in the Ukrainian capital to hide in Slovakia.

"Then we returned home in September 2022, and it was awful. There were blackouts all the time, missiles, drones, explosions, it was really a very hard time for us," Viktoriia said.

It was during that period she met a host family in Alfreton through Facebook, before moving to the UK in December that year.

She described it as "absolutely terrifying" because she did not know anyone and had to leave her husband, Ivan's father, behind.

Viktoriia and Ivan would stay with their host family for roughly one-and-a-half years.

Then, using money she earned from working at a Greggs, she moved the pair into a rented home.

Viktoriia said feeling settled was not easy but their host helped them find a school place for Ivan, and got him involved in the local football club.

"For the first time we felt absolutely safe, it was incredible," she said.

Ivan was eventually signed to the under-13 team of Alfreton Town Juniors, and he said the club helped him learn English and make new friends.

He was coached by Andrew Kevern, who had to try to train him despite an initial language barrier.

"He spoke very little English, so football was kind of his way of communicating," Kevern said.

He said that they were able to train him through one-to-ones and using his mum to act as a translator.

"It was his little safe haven, and from there, he grew a fondness for us and we grew a fondness for him," he said.

"He's just gone from strength to strength... we very rarely had to show him things twice."

Ahead of Ivan's last match, he received a send-off from the rest of the team at a training session on 23 March.

"He says it wasn't emotional, but it was very emotional believe me," Viktoriia said.

"They gave him a trophy, and I was absolutely surprised and appreciated the gesture because it was very nice. There were very sincere kind words about him," she added.

"They also presented him with his playing t-shirt signed with all [the team].

"I was crying, he's less emotional, but I was crying."

But despite the tears, Viktoriia said it was the right time to move back to Ukraine with Ivan.

"I can't live here on my own more than three years and hope things will get better back in Ukraine," she said.

"Sooner or later, it should happen that we come back home because it's our land, our country, and maybe we can help somehow. Of course I'm scared, but excited at the same time."

She also said she wanted to give a heartfelt thank you to the UK.

"My life here was really great," she said.

"I don't say easy because it wasn't, a stranger is always a stranger, different mentality, different habits, different food.

"But it's a huge part of experience in my life that I will never forget. I just want to thank all of you."

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.