- Professional Footballers Association Northern Ireland

Professional Footballers Association Northern Ireland >

We are delighted to have partnered with the charity, Sports Chaplaincy UK & Ireland, the Christian charity that is part of Global Sports Chaplaincy (GSCA) and who help coordinate and facilitate the work of Sports Chaplains within sport in the UK & Ireland. They work in close partnership with clubs and sport’s governing bodies who recognise the need for quality pastoral and spiritual support and encouragement throughout sport. ‘Serving Sport Through Excellence in Chaplaincy’ is their tag line and this is their heart and DNA.

Sports Chaplaincy UK and Ireland has been in existence for over 30 years across Football, Rugby, Cricket, Hockey, Athletics, Horse Racing, Motor Racing and now GAA as well as many other sports such as Golf, Boxing ,Gyms and Surfing They are trusted across sport in the whole of the UK and Ireland and have a Global reputation.

Approximately 80% of the professional football clubs in the UK and Ireland have a chaplain including the majority of Premiership clubs in each of those nations and over 90% of the clubs in the top 2 tiers of mens football and the top tier of women’s football in Northern Ireland have taking up the opportunity to appoint a club chaplain through the charity.

https://www.nifootballleague.com/chaplaincy/

Whether your club has appointed a sports chaplain at this point or not through the charity, their heart and ours is to ensure this is an accessible service for all of our members across the PFA in Northern Ireland and their families

PFA Northern Ireland Director Michael Carvill commented

“The whole purpose of the PFA NI was built around protecting players’ mental health and wellbeing.
We are here to help players when at their most critical and we feel this partnership with Sports Chaplaincy is essential to protecting our members welfare both during and post career. “

Philip Mitchell, National Director for Sports Chaplaincy across Ireland, is a former professional player with Linfield, Glentoran, Lisburn Distillery, Portadown , Ards and Ipswich Town and has been a coach educator for the Irish FA for over 10 years .

In addition to the valuable support your club chaplain provides, Philip along with Leslie Addis , Tracey Robinson and Howard Beverland will provide a further additional layer of support.

Leslie has been providing pastoral and spiritual care to a wide range of people for over 40 years and is of course the father of highly respected Irish League defender , Johnny . He is also chaplain to Cliftonville Ladies and Larne Men’s First Team

Tracey and her family have been involved in professional football for many years she has also been Chaplain to the Northern Ireland Women’s Senior team for 5 years and is co-chaplain with Leslie to Cliftonville Ladies

Howard is a highly respected Irish League player who has played over 400 games for Coleraine , Crusaders , Portadown ,Bangor , Ballyclare and Dundela. Howard is a professionally trained Sports Chaplaincy Ireland Mental health and wellbeing coach for individuals and families

Philip commented “Having all been around the game for a while now , Leslie , Tracey and Howard are aware of the stresses for players on and off the pitch and the encouragement and non judgmental listening ear players often need and appreciate . Delighted to provide this additional player of support for all the PFANI members and their families in addition to the personal valuable support that our club chaplains provide on the ground at the vast majority of NIFL clubs”

Philip can be contacted at 07788 254465 and ireland@sportschaplaincy.org.uk

Leslie can be contacted at 07393 486464 and laddis@sportschaplaincy.org.uk

Tracey can be contacted at 07725 145707 and tracey@sportschaplaincy.org.uk

Howard can be contacted at 07706 651981 and hbeverland@sportschaplaincy.org.uk

To find out more about the charity, check out the Sports Chaplaincy Ireland link below.

Serving Sport in Ireland – Sports Chaplaincy UK & Ireland 2023/24

For additional Sports Chaplaincy UK and Ireland Resources, check out the link.
Head in for Success 23-24 Supporting the Wellbeing of the Elite or Dedicated Athlete – Sports Chaplaincy Ireland