Middlesbrough Homeless and Recovery League: 'Football is a life-saver to these players'

The organiser of Britain’s first football tournament for homeless people and addicts believes sport is helping save lives among one of Teesside’s most vulnerable groups.

Alan Harrison, Middlesbrough Homeless and Recovery League’s sports development coordinator, says the benefits of events such as the Homeless Recovery Shield, held on Thursday, can’t be over-estimated.

And he praised Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation and Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation for backing the tournament.

He said: “What we’re able to do is all down to their support. If it wasn’t for them, some people who are engaged with us now would have lost their lives.

“There are people who have tried to commit suicide and through the support we’re able to give them are now recovering.

“The day was about celebrating the recovery of each and every one of those who took part. It gets them involved in the community again and helps lift the stigma they are carrying on their shoulders, giving them confidence and the chance to play together in a team.”

Alan got involved with North East Athletic when he moved to Middlesbrough from Merseyside and discovered there were no programmes here using sport to help people with problems such as homelessness and substance abuse.

It was then that he started to help the charity spread its wings to Teesside.

Alan, himself a recovering alcoholic, said: “From then on it’s grown bigger and bigger and we now have around 60 people on our books who are involved with the agencies or have left them and are recovering.

“We’re very active in Middlesbrough and are looking to set up similar work in Stockton too.”

“It’s not just about football – we’re including as many sports as possible. The Philanthropic Foundation is funding rowing courses with Olympic gold medallist Kat Copeland and Tees Valley Rowing Club.”

Agencies including the Probation Service, hostels and other homelessness and substance abuse organisations throughout the country were invited to submit teams. For further information, or to find out about future tornaments, call Alan on 07935942381.