Footballers share their faith in Donaghcloney
On a recent April Saturday, Donaghcloney Parish hosted a men’s breakfast at a local Hotel and welcomed 80 men, many of whom hadn’t been into a church for years. Of course good food was a draw, but the main attraction was the guest speaker, former England International, Cyrille Regis, MBE (pictured right with the parish praise band).
Cyrille’s professional playing career spanned 19 years, where he made 610 league appearances and scored 159 league goals, most prolifically at West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City.
Rector, Revd Bryan Martin, describes the event:
“Cyrille shared about his upbringing – coming to England from French Guyana and having to face the racism of the sixties.
He spoke of his passion for football and how thankful he was to God for being allowed to play for clubs such as Coventry and West Bromwich Albion and at International level for England.
Cyrille also spoke honestly of his pain and questioning of God after his friend died in a car crash in Spain. He was able to speak straight from the heart, and talk about his past, his present and his future in Christ. It was a very challenging morning for all who were there.”
In the same weekend the parish also hosted the former Northern Ireland International footballer, Stuart Elliott.
Stuart’s career spans playing for Motherwell and Hull City having also played for Glentoran, Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby Town, Hamilton Academical and Stirling Albion. He earned 36 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring 4 goals including an impressive free kick against Azerbaijan. He also played in Northern Ireland’s famous victory over England.
Young and old came to the Praise Service to hear Stuart’s testimony of how God had led him through the pain of the death of his father and the struggle of his football career being over at an early age.
He shared how he became a Christian at a tent mission, and how subsequently his football career took off.
Stuart talked about the struggles of living a Christian life as a footballer, and the hope and joy of living with Christ still gives to him daily.