Until a few years ago, Walt Utz had no interest in football. 

“I couldn’t even name you a player,” he laughs. Despite coming from a football-loving family in Germany, Walt simply never saw the appeal. Today, however, he is a season ticket holder, a proud member of LGBTQ+ Arsenal supporters’ group the Gay Gooners, and a regular face at the Emirates Stadium. 

What changed? A young person was brought into his care.  

Walt, who is an Islington foster carer, was introduced to Arsenal by Percy [name changed for privacy], who came to live with him at the age of 13. At the time, Percy was struggling. He spent most of his time alone in his room and was refusing to attend school. 

Looking back, Walt remembers that Percy often asked him to watch football together. 

“I would say, ‘It’s just not my thing.’ I realise now it was his way of trying to connect with me,” he says.  

After attending PACE parenting training provided by Islington Children’s Services that encouraged foster carers to connect with young people through their interests, Walt decided to give football a chance. He came to cheer Percy on at after school football matches and subscribed to Sports Channels so they could watch Arsenal matches together and slowly began sharing Percy’s passion for the club. That decision transformed their relationship. 

“It was that connection and the joint interest in Arsenal that I would say saved him,” Walt says. “If we didn’t have that, I don’t know what would have happened.”  

What started as an effort to bond soon became a genuine love of the game. Walt went to his first Arsenal match at the Emirates with Percy and was immediately captivated by the atmosphere. 

“The whole stadium gets up and you just get swept along,” he says. “The community spirit is incredible.”  

Football has since opened up a new social world. Seeking a welcoming community outside traditional nightlife spaces, Walt joined the Gay Gooners at Percy’s encouragement and quickly found friendship and belonging. 

“They were very welcoming. Everybody made an effort to talk to me,” he says.  

On a match day, he describes how people gradually appear in their red and white scarves and start chatting as they walk to the stadium.  

Through the group, Walt has travelled to away matches in places including Milan, Lisbon and even had a chance to visit his home country Germany when the club played Leverkusen, building lasting friendships along the way. He says the diversity of the group is one of its biggest strengths, bringing together people of different ages, backgrounds and identities through a shared love of Arsenal.  

His passion for football has also strengthened his connection with the LGBTQ+ community. Walt has marched in Pride several times, both as a foster carer and alongside the Gay Gooners, and believes football is becoming a more welcoming, safe place for LGBTQ+ supporters. 

“There’s a lot more support than people think,” he says. “The clubs are making a proactive effort to be more inclusive.”   

For Walt, football is now about much more than results on the pitch. 

“I didn’t think I’d ever find joy in something that I had no interest in for over 40 years,” he says. “Now it’s become such an important part of my life.”  

And it all started with one young Arsenal fan looking for a connection. 

Arsenal’s recent victory at the Premier League was a huge moment for Walt and Percy; “Percy was nine months old the last time Arsenal won the league, and ever since I met him, he’s been talking about what it will be like when Arsenal wins again. He told me what the parade would be like and it all came true, exactly how he described. I asked him: so, what are we gonna dream about now?” 

Walt now cares for two young adults, who encouraged him to take his remarkable baking hobby professional – you can see his incredible floral bakes at www.waltbackhaus.com  

You can learn more about fostering in Islington on our website: Become a Shared Lives carer | Islington Council