17 May 2012

The Homeless World Cup team visited Norwich City Community Sports Foundation and attended one of their regular weekly football programmes called Street Life Soccer with local homeless young men. 

All of these men are starting out on a road to change their lives under the encouragement and watchful eyes of the Foundation’s staff. This football programme involves over 100 people from around Norfolk who for one reason or another have found themselves homeless.

On the sidelines was also Lee from Liverpool who was encouraging them all.

Lee had reached the final selection pool for both Melbourne 2008 and Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup but was not in the party of eight that travelled to represent England at the football event. Despite these disappointments Lee has completely changed his life and is now encouraging others to get involved in football as a way to move away from homelessness.

Lee said: "I was always a good player but life got tough and I went on a downward spiral and lost a lot.

"When I started playing football I stopped drinking and got my life back on track. I now see my kids and two weeks ago I got married.

"I loved my time at The Cliff trialing for England and I hope I can inspire one of these guys playing today to go on and play at the Homeless World Cup. If not then just by helping them play regularly I know that I am playing a small part in helping them get their lives back on a positive footing."

More about the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation at http://www.communitysportsfoundation.org.uk/ or follow them in Facebook.