Homeless football league 'brings people together'

Karl Bowker plays as a goalkeeper in the new homeless football league

A man who "lost everything" says a football league for those who are homeless has helped him get structure back into his life.

Karl Bowker, 24, lived through the deaths of his parents when he was a child.

After losing both a job and home last year, Mr Bowker moved into supported accommodation run by the Loughborough-based charity Falcon.

It was there he began to play football, and the charity's team would now form part of the new Homeless Open Opportunities Football League.

The loss of two loved ones at such an early age was "extremely difficult", says Mr Bowker.

"I didn't really have time to grieve it properly at the time because I was the support system for my family," he said.

"I was the one that was trying to hold everybody together."

But the football sessions have provided an opportunity to meet new people, get outdoors, and stay active, which aided his mental health, he said.

The league sees one match each month, and Mr Bowker - second from the left - can be seen in this photo from the game played on 30 October

The league has been set up as a collaboration between the Leicestershire and Rutland County FA, Falcon, and Turning Point.

Mr Bowker thought the opportunity would be a "great way to meet new people and to get involved in some sports", so he gave it a try.

"It can help with mental health side and also to add routine and structure back into your days," he said.

"And it's also a great opportunity to meet some amazing people."

Mr Bowker played in non-league tournaments as the goalkeeper of the team, getting through to a final and only conceding one goal.

Despite that, he said getting called up by a Premier League team would not be a long-term goal.

"I just want to be back in the position I was before I lost everything, a good house, good job, and able to live comfortably and independently again," he said.

'Beautiful feeling'

Lee Flannigan, a senior harm reduction worker at Falcon, was at the forefront of turning the homeless football league into reality.

He said the regular matches and training sessions provided a "purpose in life" for people experiencing homelessness or undergoing addiction rehabilitation.

"It's such a beautiful feeling to see that their life slowly forming back to normal," he added.

Mr Flannigan said the matches put a smile on people's faces

Mr Flannigan says many people lose the passions they once had as children.

This includes himself, as the 45-year-old previously experienced an addiction problem, before entering a treatment centre in 2018.

"One of the activities there was football once a week, and I started to get my fitness back, build my confidence back," he said.

His personal experience has helped to inspire the sessions that take place at Falcon.

The first matchday for the league was described as a "resounding success" by the Leicestershire and Rutland County FA

The football league receives funding support from the charity Turning Point, with Falcon co-ordinating the six participating teams.

Meanwhile, the Leicestershire and Rutland County FA provide the pitch at Holmes Park, in Dog and Gun Lane in Leicester.

Karl Percival, football development lead, said the association was "proud" to launch the league.

"Football has the power to bring people together, and we're excited to see the positive impact this league will have on our community," he said.

The matches take place on the last Wednesday of every month.