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Ex-Manchester United star inspires young footballers

Keiron Tourish
BBC News NI
BBC Shows a man in a red top looking at the camera with young boys and girls playing football on a synthetic pitch in the background BBC
John O'Shea was in the north west to promote the work of the Manchester United Foundation

The former Manchester United defender John O'Shea has praised the club's foundation programme for helping to give hundreds of young people in Northern Ireland belief in themselves.

O'Shea, one of the most decorated Irish footballers of all time, was in Londonderry on Friday to meet some of the hundreds of young people who have taken part in the programme.

Speaking at Ulster University's Magee campus, he said it gave the young participants the tools to cope with life's big challenges.

That included developing skills "whether it be emotionally, physically, mentally and obviously in terms of their personal development for the future as well", he said.

Shows a man in a red top and black trousers kneeling between two groups of boys and girls in various sports tops
The boys and girls of the Manchester United Foundation programme are all ears as former player John O'Shea shared a few tips

"Anything that can go into the communities and help young kids and just to give them a chance and to give them that bit of belief whether it be kids suffering from a bit of anxiety or whatever issues kids might have these days," he said.

"If you can get into the community and get out and help them as much as you can and give them that extra bit of a chance, it's got to help everyone."

Old Trafford

O'Shea was prominent in many of Sir Alex Ferguson's title-winning teams.

During his time at Old Trafford, he won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two Football League Cups, four FA Community Shields, the Fifa Club World Cup and the Uefa Champions League.

So, he was keen to impart some of that experience to a new generation.

Daniel is wearing a red top, navy striped shoulders and has brown short hair. Behind him is a green surface and a red sign that says ''UNITED COMMUNITIES' with a manunited badge logo on it.
Daniel says he enjoys making new friends at the foundation's programme

Since 2018, 1,500 young people have taken part in the foundation's work in the north west, developing business and entrepreneurial skills.

Among them were Daniel and Bryanne.

Daniel has been involved with the foundation's programme since September.

"It's really class," he said.

"You can make tonnes of new friends and there's football matches that go on in the school and you can learn new football tricks and all.

"The best of it is just having a great time and making new friends."

Bryanne is wearing a navy top, white striped shoulders and has brown hair in a middle parting tied back. She's smiling at the camera and behind her is a red sign that says 'STREET REDS' with a manunited badge logo on it.
Bryanne said the Street Reds football games were "really fun"

Bryanne said the foundation programme had boosted her confidence.

"You get to do a lot of stuff; after-school football at lunchtime and at breaktime," she said.

"You can also go up and play pool and you can sit and chat and outside of school, you can go play the Street Reds football games as well. It's just really fun."

Shows a man in a red hoodie and holding a black and red football on the left, a boy in a red T-shirt and holding and red and black football in the middle and a girl in a blue football top on the right with a large black and white chessboard and red brick wall in the background
The former Manchester United defender coached the young footballers

The event marked a new funding partnership with the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) called the Uniting Communities programme.

The foundation said it would make a positive difference to the lives of the young people who take part.

Manchester United Foundation chief executive John Shiels said: "Thanks to a new collaboration with IFI, we are now able to expand our work here, as well as taking our provision across the border into the Republic of Ireland.

"We strive to continue our mission of providing young people with unique opportunities and experiences through the power of Manchester United and to encourage them to make better life choices."

Shows a man in red top, black trousers and trainers, with five young boys playing football
John O'Shea puts some young players through their paces

Prof Malachy O'Neill said Ulster University was proud of its strong links with local schools and wanted to create a welcoming environment on campus for activities that benefit the local community.

"Working together in this new initiative with IFI further builds on our established, impactful partnership with the Manchester United Foundation, through which we inspire students by fostering skills and self-belief that they will carry with them throughout their education and future careers," he said.

Shows a man in a red hooded top punching the air
O'Shea urged young people to chase their goals on and off the pitch

The IFI chair Shona McCarthy said her organisation was proud to collaborate with the foundation on the wider peace and reconciliation journey.

She believes that through the Communities in Partnership Programme stronger cross-community and cross-border relationships were being built to help shape what she described as a more inclusive future for all.

Football, she said, was a fantastic catalyst as it helped to bring young people together who might not otherwise have met.

"This programme will give them the tools and training to make positive life choices and ensure they have a voice and influence within their local communities," she added.

The Manchester United Foundation says it uses football to engage and inspire young people to build a better life for themselves and unite the communities in which they live.

It says staff deliver educational and community outreach programmes to help young people make positive choices in their lives.