Release Date: 22/02/2012

BELFAST Street League is a programme, supported by the East Belfast Mission, the Irish Football Association’s Peace III funded Football For All campaign, Belfast Community Sports Development Network and UEFA, which has been set up to change people’s lives for the better through the power of football.

Players in the Street League include homeless people, ex-offenders, drug and alcohol dependent individuals, long-term unemployed, refugees and asylum seekers and other disadvantaged groups.

•     92% players have a new motivation for life;

•    73% have changed their lives for the better;

•     35% have secured regular employment;

•     44% have improved their housing situation;

•     39% chose to pursue education.

 “Belfast Street League is a great example of how groups can come together through the sport of football to empower and support socially marginalised groups in a sustainable manner,” said Irish FA Head of Community Relations, Michael Boyd.

“The result of these initiatives has been to change the lives of some three quarters of participants. Justin McMinn and Adrian Byrne from East Belfast Mission who founded and co-ordinate Belfast Street League are inspirational role models and we are delighted to support them.

“Homelessness is a cross-cutting issue that cannot simply be solved by building houses.  For this reason, work by groups such as the East Belfast Mission is very important.”

New Northern Ireland Football Manager, Michael O’Neil added: “For those people involved in this programme, homelessness is just one of the causes of social exclusion, which might also include poverty, unemployment, mental health problems and drug and alcohol misuse.  Belfast Street League is changing their lives for the better.”

The Belfast Street League is a five-a-side football league based on an internationally proven development model with already established leagues in London, Glasgow and Dublin.  

Over 60 people participate in Belfast Street League on a weekly basis, most are from Hostels and there is also a Refugee and Asylum Seekers Team who participate with support from NICRAS (the Northern Ireland Committee of Refugee and Asylum Seekers).  

Belfast Street League is in its third year and there are currently plans to develop a Belfast Street League Representative Team and replicate the league in the North West.

Belfast Street League:

·          2 hours of football (weekly sessions)

·          Teams playing around 3 or 4 games

·          2 five-a-side pitches

·          2 referees

·          Lasting 8 weeks at a time

·          Runs 3 times a year

Belfast Street League is a football league set up for the disadvantaged groups of society such as the homeless, drug and alcohol dependant, refugees, asylum seekers and long term unemployed.  If you are interested in playing in the League or wanting to check it out then come along on Friday afternoon at the Shaftesbury Recreation Centre just off the Ormeau Road between 2pm and 4pm or contact Justin McMinn 07704904714 or justinmcminn@hotmail.co.uk

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