Dolan: My grief for my former teammate led me to dedicate my jersey number to him
The support he provides extends to a lasting friendship that personally shaped him.
Dolan grew up with Jeremy Wisten—a teammate and one of his closest friends from his academy years.
“He was the best person you could meet; we did everything together,” Dolan says.
“I know how important football was to him and what it did for him. He lived and breathed it.”
Wisten and Dolan were looking forward to securing scholarships together, but Wisten faced injury struggles and was released by Manchester City.
“That was a crucial period where you had to be consistent in playing,” Dolan says.
“Jeremy almost knew himself at Manchester City that he wasn’t really going to get a scholarship, but he seemed significantly affected afterward.”
Wisten was 18 years old when he committed suicide at his family home in 2020—less than two years after the team agreed to release him.
“I think for him, it was about facing the world after losing his identity as a football player,” Dolan says.
“When you are young, people don’t even mention your name. They say, ‘Wow, there’s the player Tyrhys’ or ‘Wow, there’s the player Jeremy.’ You aren’t just a human; you are a player.
“And when that is taken away, you think, ‘Well, if I am not that, then who am I?’
“It must have been very difficult for him because I know many people around him were doing well in terms of football—getting scholarships, professional contracts, and making debuts—myself included.
“It was hard to see the pain someone feels when I have achieved what they wanted. It was a very heartbreaking moment in my life.”
In memory of Wisten, Dolan wears the number 24 at Espanyol. When he discovered that this number was one of only two squad numbers available, he felt it was more than just a coincidence, as it represents the date of his dear friend’s passing.
“He is with me,” Dolan says. “He achieved his dream. Because on the pitch, he is just like I am.”
The end of Wisten’s life prompted Dolan to become an ambassador for the charity “Go Again,” which supports young people facing emotional impact after being released from club academies.
The experience of living through this situation made him want to provide different assurances and understanding.
“How much time of my day is enough?” he says. “It may last a lifetime for those we support.”
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