A HOMELESS man has contacted his mother for the first time in a year and a half after playing football for his country.
Gerard Bannon, 24, from the Falls Road in Belfast, starred for Northern Ireland in the Homeless World Cup, which ended on Saturday after seven days of play in George Square, Glasgow.
More than 50 teams took part in the tournament, established to support and inspire players through the sport.
Bannon said: “When I became homeless I knew that football helped my mental health issues and control my anger, and ever since I have been doing stuff like that and I am representing my country now.
“It has also helped my mum get back into contact with me and know that I have changed.
“This is going to be the first time we have spoken in a year and a half and she has invited me down to see her, down over the border.
“It has helped me get my self-confidence back.”
Bannon lives in the Ormeau Centre hostel in Belfast but hopes to get his own flat soon.
He would like to work night shifts in warehouses and has recently gained a forklift truck driving licence.
But for now football is the only thing on his mind.
Nearly 100,000 spectators took in 416 matches over the seven days of the tournament, in which Mexico's men's and women's teams retained their titles.
Marty Methven, 29, is originally from Perth and a former soldier who moved to Belfast for a relationship but found himself homeless.
“It has been hard adjusting to civilian life but I have had no problems getting motivated to get a job,” he said.
Brendan Kingsmore, 27, is a former captain of the team turned volunteer coach.
He said: “The boys are absolutely loving it. You can see a change in every single one of them – a positive change. It is life-changing, they are more confident and there is more togetherness.
“Some of them have issues with confidence and interacting with others but everyone has been together and motivating each other. It is amazing, something I thought I would never see.”
From last year’s team of eight players and one ex-player volunteer coach, seven now have homes and five have full-time work.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here