Sports and arts join forces in Playhouse for one night

The Irish Football Association, with support from EU PEACE III and Spring Lane Productions, hosted an evening of drama and conversation, entitled ‘A Game of Two Halves’.

The event featured two plays by Padraig Coyle and were inspired by Northern Ireland’s sporting history.

The event was organised under the umbrella of the IFA’s Football for All project, which uses football as a channel for promoting peace and reconciliation, developing partnerships and building capacity within clubs, fans and communities.

The event combined two plays by writer and sports journalist Padraig Coyle with a post-show discussion, led by well-known local facilitator Eamonn Baker.

The leading roles were played by three top notch Northern Ireland actors, James Doran, Vincent Higgins and Stephen Kelly.

The action revolved around two legendary figures in Irish football, who meet up again on the other side of the grave.

Elisha Scott - known universally as Lish - was the highly respected manager of Belfast Celtic throughout the club’s most successful years.

In 1949, he led the team on its farewell tour to America and presided over its controversial disappearance from the Irish League.

Gerry Morgan was a Linfield man through and through. At the time, he was a rare creature - a Catholic from Belfast’s Carrick Hill, who played for the club for many years before becoming Linfield and Northern Ireland’s trainer and sponge man.

They come together to mull over old times, gossip about famous characters, rake up old squabbles and generally put the world to rights.

The other play is titled, ‘Lexi’, and is a new piece, which received its premiere in the Playhouse on Thursday.

Its central character needed no introduction to Londonderry audiences.

Alex Moore is a footballing legend in his home town. He played for Derry City, Glenavon and was invited to replace star striker Jimmy Jones on Belfast Celtic’s American tour, when he scored a goal in the famous defeat of Scotland.

Stage, actor Stephen Kelly stepped into Lexi’s shoes, inviting audiences to take a trip down memory lane into his fascinating personal life and sporting career. Alex Moore and his family attended the performance.

Sarah Keys, Football for All development officer, based in Londonderry, was instrumental in bringing A ‘Game of Two Halves’ to the city.

“Lish and Gerry at the Shrine and Lexi Moore’s story created the perfect opportunity to bring together the North West’s football community through drama,” she said.

“You can get in touch with us through Twitter @footballforall using #footballforallNI or through our Facebook page ‘Football for All NI’”.

For more information please e-mail: [email protected].