Tyrhys Dolan: Espanyol forward on his ‘unbelievable’ journey
That support extends to a friendship that continues to shape him.
Dolan grew up with Jeremy Wisten, his teammate and close friend from his academy years.
“He was the nicest person you could ever meet, and we did everything together,” Dolan says.
“I knew what football meant to him and what it did to his soul. He lived and breathed football.”
Wisten and Dolan were seeking scholarships at the same time, but Wisten struggled with injuries and was released by Manchester City.
“It was a very important time and you had to play all the time,” Dolan says.
“Jeremy knew he wouldn’t actually get a scholarship at Manchester City but he struggled after that.”
Wisten was 18 when he committed suicide at his family’s home in 2020; Less than two years have passed since the club released him.
“I think for him it was about facing the world knowing he didn’t have the logo of a football player,” Dolan says.
“When you’re young, people don’t even mention your name. They say, ‘There’s Tyrhys the footballer’ or ‘There’s Jeremy the footballer’. You’re not just a person, you’re a player.
“And once you take that away, ‘if I’m not that, then who am I?’ you think.
“It must have been really difficult for him because I know a lot of people around him have been really successful football-wise, getting scholarships, getting professional contracts, getting their first caps, and I’m one of them.
“It’s hard to see someone go through so much pain and still achieve what they wanted. It was the most heartbreaking moment of my life.”
Dolan wears number 24 at Espanyol in Wisten’s honour. When he discovered it was one of two available team numbers, he felt it was more than a coincidence, as it was the date his close friend died.
“He’s with me,” Dolan says. “He realized his dream. He achieved this because he is on the field like me.”
Wisten’s death prompted Dolan to become an ambassador for the charity Go Again, which supports young footballers dealing with the emotional impact of being released from academies.
He wants to offer reassurance and perspective after having this experience.
“What are a few minutes of my day?” he says. “This could last a lifetime for them.”
