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Having a goal

May 18 2009
18-year-old Kyle Hawthorne, a member of the English team 18-year-old Kyle Hawthorne, a member of the English team
Stacey Yates interviews members of the England team for the 2007 Homeless World Cup, Emmy Wade - 20 years old, Birmingham How did you find out about the Homeless World Cup? I had a few training sessions with my housing worker. She said I was a good player and I should join the housing association team. So I played with them up until Christmas, and the coach just mentioned it and said I was good enough for the Homeless World Cup trials. I had a flat with supported housing. So how did you become homeless? My grandparents that I was staying with - their son kicked me out. Your uncle? No, my step-dad. So, you just didn't get on? No, we didn't. So did you go straight to The Foyer [an agency for helping 16-25-year-olds who are homeless]? No, Housing. I was on the list for about a month, and I was given a flat within a month. How long ago was that? Eighteen months ago. How did you feel when you got chosen for the team? I can't describe the feeling - it was amazing. And how do you feel now? Has it helped your confidence? Yeah, definitely. It's just a new beginning for me. Hopefully, I'll make this work and start going on from there. Luke Fuller - 21 years old, Birmingham How did you find out about the Homeless World Cup? I got involved with it through the hostel I currently stay at in Birmingham. I got seen there by Christian, who's one of the organisers. He referred me, and then I started doing trials and got through. Now you're down to the last eight [the number of players on a team], how do you feel? I was really happy, you know. It's a big achievement in any football tournament - or anything in my life, to be fair. I get to play for my country, so I couldn't be happier. And how did you become homeless? I basically got to the age of 16, and me and my mum were having a few arguments at home. I just felt like I'd had enough. You just weren't getting on? Well, it was a family breakdown. And yeah, I moved out and never went back. So when you moved out did you go straight to The Foyer? I didn't go straight to there. I moved around a bit. I had my own house for a while, a flat. Then I stayed with some friends, stayed with a couple of girlfriends, and I moved into The Foyer about a year ago. Are you still living there? Yeah, still there. I'm hopefully looking to move out in the next couple of weeks, once this is over. I didn't want to leave while this tournament was coming up. Has the achievement of making it through to the final eight given you more confidence? I have always had a lot of confidence in myself. And all my self-belief is mainly down to my mother, to be honest. I have to mention her. You have a good relationship with your mum now? Yeah, the relationship with my mum is absolutely quality; I love her to pieces. I'm her only child so, you know, we see each other all the time. I meet her in the city centre. I spoke to her yesterday. Our relationship is really good, and I think if anything it's been made a lot stronger by me moving out of the house, to be honest. Our personalities are very similar, and living together all the time meant we just clashed a lot. Ben Brice - 19 years old, Isle of Wight How did you find out about the Homeless World Cup? When I was living at The Foyer, there was a booklet. I was interested in football, so I filled it out and got sent the information. I got more info from the internet as well. How did you end up homeless? My mum and I had lots of arguments, and The Foyer was the only place I could go once I got kicked out. Were you living with your dad too? No, just me and me mum. My old man moved away when I was a young kid. How old were you when you moved to The Foyer? About 16. How did you feel when you got chosen for the World Cup? Really chuffed. I couldn't believe it at first. I didn't expect to be picked, but there you go. I feel much more confident in myself, meeting all these different people from different places and backgrounds, it's made it good. I'm well happy to be here. When I come back, I want a decent job, my own flat, and to move on. I'll go out, do more thing for myself - I have much more confidence. Carl Richardson - 21 years old, Skipton How did you find out about the Homeless World Cup? From the Foundation Housing. I was asked if I wanted to enter it, so I said yeah. So, how did you arrive at Foundation Housing? I left home when I was about 16. I went to live somewhere else, then came back to Skipton, applied for supported housing, and got in. So why did you leave home? I wanted to move out and start on my own. Has the Homeless World Cup changed the way you feel about yourself? Oh yeah, it's made me come out of myself. Meeting new people, like these guys here, and when we go away, we'll meet even more people in similar situations. Steven Goodwin - 19 years old, Grimsby How did you hear about the Homeless World Cup? I got sent a letter to me at the YMCA, and I applied for it that way. So you were staying at the YMCA at the time? Yeah. How did you end up at the YMCA? Just arguments between family, and things like that. How old were you? I think I was 16, coming up 17. So, have you been living in the YMCA since then? Yeah. I stayed at a mate's for two weeks and then went into the YMCA. I stayed there for nearly two years. And how did you feel when you got chosen for the last eight? I didn't really know. It was exciting and things like that, but you can't really describe it until it's here. And how do you feel now you're training? I just want to get there and start playing. I know we can win it, and I'm hoping that we do. And has it affected your confidence being put through? Confidence? Yeah! The way you look at things as well. It changes your perspective on what people are capable of. After seeing all these people who have been homeless, and come from so many backgrounds, and being able to perform every day, in and out. I know you are living back at home, with your family. Has this experience helped patch things up with your family? It's helped, and I was on and off with my family when I was living at the YMCA. Being away from my brothers too. I've missed them, so it has helped in some ways. So, now you're back at home? Yes, I am. Liam Halliday - 18 years old Paignton in Devon How did you find out about the Homeless World Cup? Through a friend that reported on it last year. Reported on it? Yeah, a friend of mine is a reporter. So, how did you get chosen? Were you homeless at the time? I was in supported housing and I had my own flat. I'd been homeless and then eventually got this flat after I attended meetings. So, how did you become homeless? Just family problems, really. Were there arguments at home? Yeah, partly, then I got kicked out. It's quite common isn't it, among a lot of the team to be homeless due to family breakdown? Yes, it is. How did you feel once you got chosen for the Homeless World Cup? Chosen for the final eight - I was absolutely ecstatic. I was really, really chuffed. I don't think there is anything that has ever made me feel that happy. And has it given you confidence? Yeah, definitely. I feel so much better about myself - 70% better about who I am. It's brilliant. So are you looking forward to going to Copenhagen? Yeah! I can't wait. I've never flown before and I'm scared of heights so I'm a nervous fool. Stacey Yates writes at www.staceyyates.com
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April – May 2024 : Compassion

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