Brazil, boots and breaking barriers
Words and Images: Isobel Irvine
There’s no better affirmation that Homeless World Cup changes lives than hearing directly from the people who have been through that experience. At the recent Cities Ending Homelessness Forum in Edinburgh, attendees were moved to listen to Rachel McLean, who represented Scotland at the Paris 2011 Homeless World Cup. We caught up with her after to find out more…
Growing up in Edinburgh’s Wester Hailes neighbourhood, Rachel endured significant trauma during her childhood, with parents involved in addiction, which resulted in her being removed from their care and into a Barnardo’s home by the time she was 16.
“Then I started making not very great decisions based on stuff I’d been seeing and thinking that’s how to live my life,” she continues. “I wasn’t in a great place. Luckily a parent managed to secure recovery, told me about the Homeless World Cup trials and that’s how I found out about Street Soccer Scotland as they were running the trials.
“I went along as I’d always loved football - when I was younger, I played for Hibs - it was always a part of my life, but there are barriers for people in poverty when it comes to elite sporting stuff, having to pay monthly fees and so on. However I went along to the Street Soccer trials, I was very lucky to be selected and went on to be made captain.”
The tournament was life-altering for Rachel;
“It was an amazing experience and it was tough. There were a lot of girls with different issues but we faced those challenges as a team.
“The moment we really came together and started to believe, however, was when we played Brazil. We really thought we’d be a right-off but that wasn’t the case. We drew 2-2 so it went to sudden-death penalties and though we didn’t win, we put in an amazing effort.”
It was, however, an event off the pitch after that match that truly changed Rachel’s perspective on how she was living her life and what she could do to make it better.
Rachel McLean speaking on the Sports for Social Impact panel at the Edinburgh Cities Ending Homelessness Forum.
“When we got back to the accommodation the Kenya team were moving in,” she relates.
“I remember they didn’t have suitcases. They had their clothes in bin bags in an old shopping trolley, and some had no trainers - I’d been provided with £100 trainers as part of my kit.
“But they were congratulating me, saying ‘Well done, you played so well, we were rooting for you to win,’ and were so positive and genuinely supportive of us all.
“That moment changed my perspective of life and showed me how lucky I am. Even though I was in a bad situation and had problems with where I was living, I’d been given the chance to try and turn things around and had the means to do something about it.”
Once back home, Rachel started implementing changes like volunteering for Street Soccer Scotland.
“I’d been so isolated and I suddenly had a sense of belonging. I was very fortunate that I love football and Street Soccer was there to help. I’ve met so many fantastic friends who are there for me, helping build me into the person I want to be, supporting me, always reaching out to me.
“That’s been a big part of it - having a community, an organisation that was genuinely interested in my welfare and really made me feel valued.”
Rachel is quick to add that life since 2011 hasn’t always been plain sailing, with numerous bumps along the road but, ultimately, sport has always been there for her.
“I love the impact sport can have on people’s lives and all the positives it brings, simple stuff like…for so long I was stuck in a place not liking what I was doing, not feeling like I was worth anything, then I was able to turn up on time, communicate with other people and build a network whereas I’d always thought I was worthless, wasn’t deserving.
“For so long I felt trapped in a cycle I didn’t know how to get out of and I’d try different things but I wasn’t dealing with the root issue of the problems.
“Homeless World Cup and Street Soccer Scotland changed what life means to me, gave me an opportunity to turn things around, no matter how many setbacks I had, and inspired me always to get back on to the path I need to be on for my life to get better.”
Her path off the field has also taken a new, positive route. At the time of Paris 2011, eighteen-year-old Rachel had one ‘Higher’, wanted to go to college and continue to university to study sports science. She duly applied to study an HNC in Learning and Development, loved it and successfully completed the course.
“Off the back of that I applied to the University of Edinburgh, was given a conditional offer, worked hard to meet my conditions and now I’m starting a three-year degree course in September in that field.
“I enjoy working with people,” she continues when asked what she might do after graduation. “I feel I can relate to many in similar positions around mental health, addiction and core experience. I just want to get involved in my studies, enjoy the time on my placements and see where that takes me.”
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“I felt very privileged to be part of this event,” she says. “It’s a real honour to be asked to speak, to give back, and if it helps further the cause, I’m more than happy to do this.
“Sometimes what helps most is to hear from the person who’s been through it.”