Sports stars show support for soccer

Over 1000 Young People from all across Northern Ireland have been taking part in Midnight Street Soccer since it began in January 2005, this includes 100 participants from Castlereagh, who regularly take part on a Saturday night and this weekend those lucky young people are in for a starry night, they will be rubbing shoulders with stars such as Eddie Irvine and some of Paul Millar’s men from the Oval to name a few.

All of the five Belfast-based Premier League Clubs Glentoran, Linfield, Cliftonville, Donegal Celtic and Crusaders will all be showing their support for Midnight Street Soccer, by making their way to the Eddie Irvine Sports Facility in Bangor to take part in anti-sectarian and anti-racism workshops with the Castlereagh youth.

Eddie Irvine the Formula One Star has pledged his support for this innovative project and has described why he thinks it has become increasingly important to address racism and sectarianism.

“We have hundreds of young people in our centre every week and it has become apparent that most of them are involved in football, it is a worldwide language and as such should be used as a medium to address deeper rooted issues in society. Just look at the racism highlighted in Big Brother recently and also the hate crime we experience in our own local communities.

“Sectarianism and racism come from the same fear of diversity and lack of understanding and tolerance of differing cultures. If football and sport can be used as a fun interesting way to engage young people in a project designed to combat racism and sectarianism and to promote tolerance we should have done this along time ago.”

The young people will receive coaching during the football matches and then take part in workshops where the Irish league players will share their experiences and friendships they have formed across differing cultures and religions through football.

The night will then finish with some go-karting and presentations.

Michael Boyd, Head of Community Relations at the IFA will be helping to facilitate the event and highly commends the projects efforts to address racism and sectarianism through football: “ We have been involved with Midnight Street Soccer from the start of the project back in 2005, its message has always been one of No Racism, No Sectarianism just Football, but now the project has developed even further by implementing workshops that will directly communicate this message to the participants.”

Midnight Street Soccer in Castlereagh is part funded by the Castlereagh Community Safety Partnership and Castlereagh Borough Council Community Relations.

To get involved in Midnight Street soccer within Castlereagh please contact the Community Sports Officer Clare Bell on Tel: 07968026754.

Participants must be aged between 14-17 Years and Volunteers and Coaches aged 18 Plus.

The 5-A-Side Championship begins on Saturday 24th March, forms are now available to register Teams.

(JM/SP)