Making it Work.
Jennifer May paid a recent visit to Ireland’s Issues Street League to see at first hand a heart-warming project that is making a difference.


Ireland’s Issues street soccer league has been up and running for the last twelve weeks and so far has been an overwhelming success. With the backing of Dublin City Council, the teams meet to play football, in Parkside Community Centre, Cabra every Saturday. There are now over 150 players taking part, from many different backgrounds, and the atmosphere on the pitches and in the canteen, is electric.
With their sights set on inclusiveness the league has expanded from one for homeless boys to one serving many of the marginalized – with this in mind many of the agencies have come together to promote understanding, education and a sense of pride, using football as the catalyst. Some of the agencies involved are CASP (Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme), the De Paul Trust, Merchants Quay Ireland and Wheatfield Soccer Club - there is also a team from Store Street Garda station.
Not only is this an opportunity for these young men, many of whom have come from the chaotic backgrounds of addiction and homelessness, to put some structure into their lives, but all have reported a new sense of self-worth, confidence and renewed hope in the future.
Cieran O Murray of Liberties FC reports that he loves the league and says that his team are training hard as often as they can.
‘It’s great,’ he says, ‘the league is very well-organized and as we’re all long term unemployed, its keeping us out of trouble; it gives us something to do. We’re walking away with it at the moment.’
James Murray his teammate agrees.
‘We’d all really like to thank Sean Kavanagh (Issues Magazine) for all his hard work – we just wish that we could play football every day.’
Kevin O Hagan is the Community Sergeant at Store Street. He has a team playing every Saturday and all are totally committed to the league, seeing the great results it is having on the young men involved.
‘This year we’re becoming more involved,’ he explains. ‘It’s a great way of integrating with the lads - they’re learning to play by the rules, be punctual, reliable, working together – it is giving them a great sense of well-being and confidence.’
Kevin along with Brendan Flynn (Street league committee) is also active in trying to get funding for the venture, as he says that it’s crucial the kids see they are supported.
‘Finance is really necessary,’ he says. ‘This is about a lot more than sport – not only are all the different agencies, like the drugs, hostels and homeless agencies coming together for the first time, promoting cross-culture understanding, but the lads have got such a confidence boost. The only embarrassing thing is having to beg for the money to keep it going.’
Wheatfield Prison Officer, Gerry Corry, who has worked in the prison service for 15 years, echoes these sentiments.
‘You can see what a difference this has made to the lads and to community relations,’ he says. ‘We’re getting on really well with them – I think they’re realising that we are people too. We are learning to relate through football.’
While Dublin City Council have been very supportive, offering the state of the art facility free on Saturdays, it is obvious that without secure ongoing financial backing the league will become unsustainable. This would be an unthinkable scenario for many of the young men who are taking their first tentative steps back into mainstream living as a result of their involvement. For many of them, playing soccer has had a more positive effect than anything in their lives to date.
Mick Pender, FAI coach who has been involved with the league from its inception says that running the league has now become a full time job.
‘The idea has blossomed over the last three years,’ he explains.’ We have about 150 guys playing now and had to turn some teams away we had so many applications. Aaron Callaghan, the Senior Sports Development Officer with Dublin City Council has been really great, but the hard part is the funding. A lot of these lads are stuck in a rut, living in hostels, and playing football has given them a sense of self. Withdrawing the league now would be like leading a thirsty man to water and then telling him he can’t drink.’
This league is diverse, because, Pender points out, it is the only time so many agencies have come together to such an extent – not only this but it is also crossing cultural barriers, with teams from all over the world.
‘It creates understanding,’ says Hassan Mouzali, an Algerian playing for IFC Clonskeagh. ‘There is a good mix of people and cultures – it is a chance for us to talk and get to know each other. It brings down the natural barriers.’
Some of his fellow players admit that it is the first time they have met and befriended Irish people, despite being in the country for a number of years.
‘The natural hostility that can so often be there is disappearing,’ reiterates Pender. ‘These lads are all friends now – you can see lads playing cards, socialising – it is promoting understanding between groups that often haven’t a chance to get to know each other.’
On Saturday April 9th there will be a football Blitz Cup and Shield Competition organized by the Store Street Gardai.
‘We have sponsored this competition in memory of young homeless people who died as a result of homelessness and drugs,’ says Garda O Hagan.
‘We think it is important that people remember these young people need supports, like this league in order to overcome their difficulties.’
The Blitz is cross-border with hopefully teams from Northern Ireland also taking part and the hope would be, with funding to make this a full cross-country initiative.
Everyone who plays in the league is eligible for selection for the Homeless World Cup to be held in Edinburgh in July. Last year the Irish team brought back the INSP trophy from Gothenburg, Sweden and were honoured by Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan with a reception in the Mansion House on their return. They were also welcomed onto the pitch at half time by the FAI at one of their games – it is this kind of recognition for their achievements that spur these lads on and keep them going.
‘This shows the boys that they can achieve their goals,’ says Pender. ‘It makes them feel special. This is what its all about – integration, education and a healthy lifestyle – some of the guys are now on referee and coaching courses – football really is the catalyst for change in many of these boys lives.’
The lads are game, as are all the other participants, and all the various agencies have expressed amazement at the results playing football has had on their clients. The only thing holding this remarkable venture back is funding, but all involved are determined to soldier on.
‘Football is a great common denominator,’ says Mick Pender. ‘These lads are cultivating a winning mentality, on and off the pitch. They cannot be left high and dry.’
As Sean Kavanagh says, “It’s not just about football, we’re creating a welcoming environment for the lads to meet, socialise and develop interpersonal skills. We’ve organised food, refreshments and a place where the lads feel comfortable. The most important step in gaining self-confidence is to feel you are a part of something, that you have something to contribute. You’d be amazed the difference that makes. It’s a starting point that hopefully will lead to brighter futures.”