NW boys do wellat NI Street league

THE Northern Ireland Street League caters for homeless, long term unemployed and other marginalised groups to play in a weekly tournament every Friday from 2pm-4pm.

The initiative started in 2010 when Justin McMinn and Aidan Byrne from East Belfast Mission ran a very successful pilot league with the support of BCSDN and IFA, and with financial support from UEFA RESPECT and IFAs EU Peace III funded Football For All programme, Street League has continued, attracting over 60 participants every week and has grown from strength to strength. Earlier this year, Sarah Keys, the IFA’s Football For All Development Officer, based in Derry/Londonderry, set up the North West Street league tournament which runs in Magee College, also on a Friday from 2pm–4pm.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, who met the street league players recently said: “With support from UEFA, Comic Relief and Peace III we have been able to support the development of Belfast Street League as part of our Football For All Programme. It is crucially important to Northern Ireland football that we invest in building good relations with all the community. Belfast Street League is a great example of how the IFA is working with partners, such as the East Belfast Mission and the Belfast Community Sports Development Network, building trust in the community and making a meaningful impact.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I am delighted to support Football For All and look forward to following the success of Street League in Belfast and the North West.”

The two leagues have had opportunities to meet with each other and take part in joint tournaments. When the Northern Ireland team selections are made for the first entry into the Homeless World Cup in Poland 2013, the pool of players from both Belfast and the North West will be available for consideration.

The PlayBall Street Striker event was another opportunity for the Belfast and North West teams to compete in a football tournament but PlayBall Street Striker also gave them the opportunity to compete individually in a football skills showdown, with the top five battling it out to be crowned Street League Street Striker champion 2012.

The skills displayed by the North West’s Sam Murray secured him a place in the final five but the title of Street Striker Champion 2012 went to Belfast’s Curtis Harmen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The team entering the football tournament called ‘Derry Utd.’ were made up of players from the Methodist City Mission, Praxis Care and the Bytes Project, most notably Sean McCauley, Sam Murray and Peter Finnegan.

Derry Utd secured third place in the tournament showing how the teams from the North West are going from strength to strength and are now a strong presence in the overall NI Street League.

Emmet Lynch from the Methodist City Mission said: “Street League is a great opportunity for our service users, the league has so many benefits from improving physical and mental health to helping build confidence and self-esteem

“ It is a great initiative and I would encourage any organisation working with marginalised men’s groups to get involved.”

For more information on Street League contact Sarah Keys on (028) 71365151 or [email protected].

Related topics: