YOUNG soccer players are raising money for a toddler who may struggle to ever kick a ball.

They are playing in a charity tournament to help young Aidan Rosser, who has been blighted by an as yet undiagnosed condition.

Aidan, aged two-and-a-half, cannot sit, walk, crawl or communicate, said his anxious dad Chris.

"He is not saying 'mam' or 'dad'," he said. "You see other kids his age running around, being nuisance two-year-olds.

"He can't roll over at night. He could choke on his vomit, so he's in with us so we can check on him every couple of hours."

Mr Rosser and his partner Michelle Stabler, of Clos San Pedr, Cockett, have three other children — Finnley, 5, Jacob, 6, and Holli, 9 — who also want to know what's up with their little brother.

"It has affected the family unit — but Aidan is part of our unit," said Mr Rosser.

"There have been improvements — he is reaching out to hold things, which he didn't do before. He puts things to his mouth, and he smiles and chuckles a lot."

He said Aidan has undergone an MRI scan, plus brain, genetic, chromosome and blood tests, and more recently a CT scan to see if his skull and brain are developing as they should.

"We are still in the dark," said Mr Rosser, who runs a recycling company.

"It is a massive waiting game."

The 36-year-old said Aidan needed a specialist pram, with extra harnesses and postural and head support, and would benefit from sensory toys.

Funds for the pram could be raised by the football tournament on December 18 at PlayFootball, Treboeth.

It has been organised by children's football coach Steve Rees, known to everyone as Reeco.

Mr Rees has known Mr Rosser for a couple of years and was so moved by Aidan's story that he hatched the tournament plan.

"I have been thinking to myself what would I do if this happened to me and my family, the only answer I could come up with is, I would hope that the decent upstanding people I call my friends would step up and offer me support in anyway shape or form," said the father-of-two, of Morriston.

"We are hoping to raise £500 for a pram and a cover."

He added: "So to everyone who is going to support this event, can I just say a big thank you."

The tournament is for under-6 and under-7 teams and would be a pleasure to host, said PlayFootball bosses.

"We know Reeco and what he does in the community," said general manager Matt Burkill.

"We want to get involved and it's nice to put something back. We are happy to help."

Mr Rosser admitted he was starting to fear for Aidan, and wondered just what the future held.

"When he is 18 am I going to have to carry him to bed?" he said.

"I think, why is all this happening?

"If we have a diagnosis we can plan for the future, and make adaptations to the house."

But he added: "His smile makes up for everything."

richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk