Coeliac Awareness Month 2025: Cerys Dolloway’s Story

To raise awareness this Coeliac Awareness Month, WCWFC defender Cerys Dolloway shared with us her personal experiences of living with coeliac disease and how she has had to adapt and adjust her lifestyle post-diagnosis. She also discusses what could be done in football to support those with coeliac disease to help ease any struggles they may face.

When did you discover you had coeliac disease, and what symptoms did you have before your diagnosis? 

I found out I had coeliac disease two years ago, while I was working as a Sports Assistant at a school. My symptoms varied, but my biggest issue was chronic fatigue, along with a lot of neurological symptoms, i.e., numbness and tingling (neuropathy), brain fog, memory loss and slowness of thoughts. There were times when I would have to go and sleep in the onsite nurse's office during my free lessons because I couldn’t stay awake. I had been constantly tired for a long time before being diagnosed, and my symptoms only got worse as time went on. There were moments when it felt like someone turned a power switch off on me, and I would suddenly feel completely drained. When playing football, I would make it through a match okay, but afterwards, I would crash hard, experiencing extreme fatigue and neurological symptoms. 

How has it affected your day-to-day life since your diagnosis? 

Since being diagnosed, my fatigue levels have definitely become less extreme. However, there are new challenges, particularly with food options. Being gluten-free on the go can be tricky, as I have to check everything I’m eating, and there’s also the anxiety around eating out. But I’m grateful that I finally have an answer for all the symptoms I was experiencing, and I’m living a healthier life because of it. I’ve learned that I really need to plan ahead, especially for lunches on the go, which is something I’m still working on improving. 

Could you explain how it’s affected your diet and how you’ve adjusted to that? 

When it was all new, I was gutted about missing out on the ease of having fresh bread, pastries, and pasta... all foods I loved. But you get used to it quickly when you realise your health has to come first. I’m very fortunate to have an amazing family that loves cooking from scratch, and we’ve become a completely gluten-free household to avoid any risk of cross-contamination. There are still so many great foods I can eat, so my diet hasn’t changed too much. In fact, I’m probably eating healthier because of it! There are lots of gluten-free alternatives available now, which is great (although unfortunately, they can be quite expensive). It’s definitely been a journey finding what gluten-free options there are and what tastes the best... but you get used to it all eventually. 

What do you think can be done in football to raise awareness about coeliac disease? 

In general, I think it’s important to ensure that more gluten-free options are available at stadiums and events. One thing I’ve definitely noticed when watching football matches is the lack of gluten-free food options. You’re often lucky if you can get a packet of crisps to eat. I think it should become standard to have coeliac-safe, gluten-free options at all sporting stadiums, even if it’s just something simple (other than crisps!). 

Raising awareness requires educating the right people to put systems in place. I’ve been fortunate to have great support from WCWFC, and I’m grateful for that. They’ve made the opposition teams aware of my dietary needs when we have post-match meals, and some clubs have been able to cater for me. It’s the small things like that which mean a lot. 

I also think it’s important for more people to share their stories, particularly professional athletes. This helps raise general awareness and understanding of how coeliac disease affects individuals, and it can help others, like me, feel seen and not alone. Understanding how a professional athlete fuels their body as a coeliac would also be beneficial to understand. 

What would you say to somebody reading this who thinks they may have coeliac disease but is unsure whether they should go to their GP? 

The Coeliac UK website is a useful resource to start with. I would say be confident and speak to your doctor about having some blood tests done if you're experiencing symptoms. There’s no harm in getting checked! It’s really important to continue eating your normal diet before the tests to ensure you get accurate results. 

As WCWFC’s Community Lead, this month Cerys organised a charity tournament raising money for Coeliac UK! Everyone who participated managed to raise an impressive total of £232 for the charity.