Ciaran Murphy from Belfast to Rio with the Homeless world Cup


Samantha Bailie recently caught up with Ciaran Murphy the first player from the Belfast Street League to be chosen to represent Ireland in the Homeless World Cup.

The French Algerian author and philosopher Albert Camus once said “All I know most surely about morality and obligations, I owe to football.” Perhaps this very quote could quite literally sum up the ethos behind The Street League and The Homeless World Cup. For those unfamiliar with The Street League, it is a football programme set up to help those who experience difficulty in their lives including homeless, drug and alcohol dependant, refugees, asylum seekers and the long-term unemployed etc. The Belfast Street League is based on a proven development model as set up by Ireland’s Big Issue Street leagues: with leagues now running throughout Ireland. Research has demonstrated that over 70% of players experience a significant positive life change. The first Street League in the North of Ireland is the Belfast Street League and it runs for eight weeks (two hours each Friday). Each year in Dublin there is an all Ireland football tournament for all the Street Leagues around the North and South to enter a team or two from their league and during the tournament there are coaches scouting for the finest talent from over 400 players on show to select for Ireland’s Homeless World Cup team. The coaches select around 30 players from all the teams to go for trials, and then whittle it down week by week until they have their final eight players to go to the Homeless World Cup (this year in Rio de Janeiro in September).
This is the first year that teams from the Belfast league has played in the All Ireland Tournament. Justin McMinn (Belfast’s Street League Coordinator) selected the best 10 players and four players from the team were selected for trials. This was great news as their main goal was achieved, to have at least one selected for trials. At the end of the trials Ciaran Murphy from Belfast was left, with other players from Dublin, Limerick and Portlaoise, as the final 8 were selected.
On Belfast man Ciaran Murphy selection Justin McMinn his Street League Coordinator said:
“It was so great to hear the news that Ciaran was selected for the World Cup team. I know he was up against tough opposition. I’m happy all his hard work has paid off; travelling up and down every week to Dublin by himself on the bus to the trials, he has shown great perseverance. He’s the first player from the Belfast Street league to play in the All Ireland World Cup team. Ciaran has now paved the way for more players from Northern Ireland to follow his footsteps and set their sights on future World Cups, as he has proved, dreams can come true! Ciaran is a prime example of what football and playing in the Street League can do for someone’s life. Six months ago Ciaran would not have heard of Street League, now he’s playing in the Homeless World Cup, the biggest competition of his life so far. He now has a big opportunity to get a dream career in football either as a player if noticed from watching teams, or as a football coach, with coaching courses now opened up to him. Ciaran has also become more independent and confident since playing in the Street League as he has had to travel to Dublin every week by himself to meet with people and train for the Homeless World Cup.”
Marie Fusco, manager of the Flax Foyer in Belfast (where Ciaran resides) stated of his achievement:
“Everyone in the Foyer was both delighted and extremely proud when Ciaran was selected. His self-esteem has increased greatly and he seems ready to take on the world now!  He was a great wee footballer prior to the selection but this seems to have helped his confidence and confirmed what I already knew. Involvement in sports is great for all young people and can help change their lives in many ways, the least of which is giving them an interest and the greatest being, they become so skilled that they can carve a future for themselves in the sporting world; and this is something that we wish for Ciaran. He gets himself down to the practice every week - he is taking it seriously he realises that he has the chance of a lifetime and he does not want to blow it.  He really has shown a whole new level of maturity in this.?
Sean Kavanagh Founder of the Big Issue Street League program and organiser of Ireland’s Homeless World Cup Squad “ Ciaran has earned his place in this squad, his application and demeanour has impressed the management team and we’re delighted to have him on board “.
I recently caught up with the man himself who is very excited about his achievements and the forthcoming trip to Brazil to represent his country:
How has being in The Street League benefited your life Ciaran?
“Oh, big time…. If I hadn’t got involved I’d be hanging about the streets drinking like. The league has changed my life so it has.”
How do you feel about your success?
“It’s only really starting to kick in now so it has…I had no idea what it would lead to…I was just playing football to get out of the house so I was, but now I can see that it’s a big deal…. A really big deal so it is.”
What do your family and friends think of your achievement?
“At the start none of us really knew much about it and I was calling it a wee competition….. Imagine like. Now though we know different. My dad told me he was proud of me – that meant a lot so it did…. I sometimes can’t believe what is happening…it’s mad like, and to think I was calling it a wee competition at the start like.”
What preparations have you made to stay fit?
“I’m down in Dublin every Saturday, training with the team and Tuesday or Wednesday up here [in Belfast]. I haven’t drunk since I was picked…before that I was drinking through the weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday…but since I was picked I haven’t drunk at all…I’ve been looking after myself so I have.”
People make the assumption that people living in shelters are drug addicts or alcoholics – what brought you to the Flax Foyer?
“Mine was neither drink or drugs but just home circumstances – it was just best to move out of home…I have a job, I’m happy….it was just home circumstances and time to leave as I just wasn’t getting along with someone and I needed to leave…. That’s pretty much how I came to the Flax Foyer.”
Ciaran’s motivation is infectious. It is obvious that he has discovered something he loves and that dedication has yielded success, which makes me reflect on Brazilian footballer Pele, who once stated that “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing….” Ciaran has illustrated each of those qualities and we are all proud of his amazing achievements up to this point and the many possibilities for further success out in Rio and beyond.
To keep up-to-date with Ciaran’s success be sure to buy the magazine each issue and join the Homeless World Cup on Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, YouTube and Twitter. You can also sign up for news to be delivered to your inbox via the Homeless World Cup homepage (by entering your email address).
If you would like to help a young person like Ciaran realise their true potential click the ‘donate’ tab on Street League website wwwirishstreetleague.com (make a donation, or if you are an organisation, become a sponsor). Statistics have illustrated that two thirds of the players at the Homeless World Cup change their lives for the better. Belfast’s Ciaran Murphy, thanks to a newfound confidence and motivation has and will continue to achieve great things!

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