Homeless World Cup

Ryan Wilson from Cambuslang, Glasgow, is just one of a growing population of homeless youth in Scotland. Three years ago, having just signed a contract with Scottish Premier League club Motherwell, Ryan was happily adjusting to being part of their youth setup.

His world was then turned upside down when his girlfriend gave birth to their first child. Ryan was forced to quit the team only six months after joining. Attempting to keep his dream of playing professional football alive, Ryan signed with the far less glamorous Dumbarton F.C. However he soon felt his fitness waning and decided to pack in football all together.

“By the time my girlfriend had my baby I gave football up altogether as I was too tired and couldn’t even make training, I just gave up hope”. Ryan was 18, without a job and under the strain of having to support his new born child. The stress quickly became too much for Ryan, who soon developed a drink problem. His family could no longer watch his downward spiral, and before long Ryan found himself on the streets without a home.

After gaining a placement in a homeless unit, Ryan found support from the staff, who encouraged him to return to sport. “One of the workers there told me to go for a trial for the Scottish Homeless World Cup Team. So I went to the initial trials in Glasgow and was successful, which meant I went through to the final twenty four players, from which only eight would make it into the actual team that would play in the homeless world cup in Rio de Janeiro”.

The Scottish Homeless World Cup team is coached and mentored by Street Soccer (Scotland), a local charity that seeks to use the sport to help empower the socially excluded. Like Ryan, David Duke the founder of Street Soccer (Scotland), has also represented Scotland at previous Homeless World Cups. His organization promotes the values of inclusion, fostering partnerships, encouraging a belief that everyone can change their lives for the better, and promoting respect and involvement between players, the community and the beautiful game itself.  The charity aims to “tackle exclusion, promote health, fitness and well-being, provide diversionary activities from anti-social behavior, promote equalities and challenge discrimination.”

It is clear to see that David has become an inspiration for homeless youth such a Ryan. “I have a lot of gratitude towards David, he was just like me. Six years ago he was homeless and now he has turned his entire life around and set up the Street Soccer. It’s great to look up to that and maybe one day I can do the same”.

Although Ryan did not win the Homeless World Cup this summer in Brazil, he managed to claim the title of the tournament’s top goal scorer and was voted man of the match in his side’s epic 11- 10 victory over the Auld Enemy. His impressive performance has opened a slew of new doors, and Ryan is now a finalist on Sky One’s hit show Street Soccer with Wayne Rooney.

One can only wonder what might have become of Ryan if he had not found Street Soccer, but now he can look to the future and know that he has the opportunity to resurrect not only his career, but his life. It’s clear that Street Soccer means a lot to Ryan and without it he feels his life would be a great deal worse.

“Without a doubt Street soccer has changed my life, from playing in the Homeless World Cup to participating in Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker and even just all of the interviews I’ve had and being on the TV. It’s just been incredible and that’s all thanks David and the Street Soccer programme. It’s given me a second chance and the motivation to help other people who are homeless to get them involved in street soccer”.

With grassroots organisations such as Street Soccer (Scotland) growing at rapid speed, the future looks bright for Scotland’s homeless and excluded youth.  As these projects continue to grow and flourish perhaps the nation will be looking for its next great football hero from the parts of the population that often suffer from the highest levels of exclusion. Perhaps Ryan says it best when he’s asked what his time with Street Soccer has given him. “This is my last chance to make it in football but, no matter what, my life’s moving in the right direction again.”