I’m autistic – and I couldn’t be happier than when

Whereas in a small group I freeze, surrounded by a mass of people at Glastonbury or the football, I lose all my inhibitions and feel that I fit into the human race

Like many autistic people, I often feel uncomfortable around others. Put me in a one-to-one and I freeze. In a group of people around a table I say nothing – and leave as soon as possible. But give me a huge, surging crowd and I couldn’t be happier.

It confuses people, who assume I’d hate crowds and be agoraphobic; more people equals more pain. But it couldn’t be less true. I’ve been going to Manchester City matches for more than 20 years. And there is nowhere I’m happier than in the away end, right at the front, locked in with a mass of people, chanting, singing the songs, screaming my head off.