News

The IFA Football for All Team and the Belfast Community Sports Development Network, with support from the EU’s PEACE III Programme and Belfast City Council, are delighted to be working in partnership with Hosford House (the homeless service of the East Belfast Mission) on the inaugural Belfast Big Issue Street Football League. The league will help build positive relations and shared cultural space in Belfast and challenge those sectarian and racist attitudes which have often dogged the sport in the past.  Among the anticipated beneficiaries of the project are the homeless, ex-offenders, drug and alcohol dependent individuals, long term unemployed, refugees and asylum seekers and other disadvantaged groups.

The league will take place in the city centre every week and will feed into the Big Issue all Ireland Street League Tournament from which a panel of players will be chosen and a team selected to represent Ireland in the Homeless World Cup. The 2010 Homeless World Cup takes place in Rio, Brazil in September and will be attended by 64 teams coming from all over the world.

The Belfast Street League is based on an internationally proven development model. London, Glasgow and Dublin have well established leagues. Research from these cities has demonstrated that over 70% of players experience a significant positive life change. Benefits include coming off drugs and alcohol, improving health and self esteem, repairing relationships, finding employment, breaking out of homelessness, entering education and training, becoming a football coach or referee, and some participants have moved into professional football.

Here in Belfast we have also seen the power of football to bring individuals from different backgrounds together and create a new shared space, respect for others, and sense of belonging.

If you would like more information on the event please contact Justin McMinn NI Street League at Tel: 90469791, Email: nistreetleague@ebm.org.uk

Or the Football For All Team at ffa@irishfa.com.