HEART OF GOAL
Inside the cross-border peacebuilding football project backed by ex-Man Utd ace Rio Ferdinand and Westlife’s Shane Filan
The ex-Manchester United legend hailed the 'power and passion of football as a great uniter'
FORMER footie star Rio Ferdinand was in Sligo today to launch a new community project.
The ex-Manchester United legend hailed the “power and passion of football as a great uniter” during the cross-border event.
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The Rio Ferdinand Foundation (RFF) and the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) teamed up to deliver the match day experience hosted at Sligo Rovers, The Showgrounds.
The ‘Beyond the Ball’ match day seeks to develop lasting cross-border relationships, providing opportunities for young people from border communities to come together, learn new skills and be supported to succeed.
Cheering on the teams today were a host of dignitaries from Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The IFI was set up by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986, delivering a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across the southern border counties and Northern Ireland.
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SO WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IN SLIGO?
A football match took place. But not any old match.
Leading the teams out on the day were ‘Team Managers’ England and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand and Westlife front man and Sligo Rovers F.C. superfan Shane Filan.
Thirty-two young people walked out on the pitch on matchday, unsuspecting of the day’s magnitude, with organisers keeping the details of attendees firmly under wraps.
A further 300 young people, their families, and youth workers from eight counties across the island of Ireland were transported to The Showgrounds to support from the stands and take part in activities in the grounds during the day.
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The ‘Beyond the Ball’ matchday was supported by former Northern Ireland International footballer Gerry Armstrong, and equality and social justice advocate Paul Canoville, the first black player to play for Chelsea FC.
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Female players also joined a women’s empowerment session with TV personality Kate Ferdinand, Linfield Captain Ashley Hutton, and home team Sligo Rovers Emma Hansberry.
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
Organised by the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, the ‘Beyond the Ball’ matchday brought together young people aged between 16 and 18 from community projects on both sides of the border.
It is part of a major partnership approach to peacebuilding and cross-community reconciliation funded through the IFI’s Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP).
The Beyond the Ball programme is one of the IFI’s most significant funding allocations in recent years with an overall investment of €628,850, which included an initial pilot scheme in 2023.
WHO IS INVOLVED?
This new phase was officially launched in August 2023, with the partnership working across Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Antrim, Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Derry.
It connects young people from cross-community backgrounds through sport, with the idea of sharing experiences, and building trust and confidence between communities at a grassroots level. The programme is expected to launch in Louth in April this year.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
At the heart of the partnership is a desire to connect young people, broaden their horizons and build their confidence and leadership skills to empower community leaders.
Since February 2023, over 300 young people have participated in the Beyond the Ball programme, 70 completed accredited training courses and qualifications in youth leadership and equality and diversity, with an additional 75 due to undertake qualifications.
A further 308 people attended cross-border consultations, events, and tournaments.
Today’s event - which welcomed young people from Belfast, Omagh, Derry and Donegal as well as locally from Sligo and Leitrim - means that the ‘Beyond the Ball’ project has engaged with more than 1,000 young people across a range of initiatives and events with plans to maximise this participation and interest to deliver real change for young people and their local communities going forward.
WHAT DOES RIO SAY?
He said: “I think we all recognise that supporting young people to achieve their potential regardless of background is the key to building a better future.
“The Rio Ferdinand Foundation is committed to delivering projects that give young people the confidence, skills, and platform to achieve that aim by offering positive activities, training, and opportunities to build networks, relationships, and careers across Ireland and the UK.
“This partnership with the International Fund for Ireland brings together young people, communities and strategic partners to work together and shape new initiatives, relationships and networks across the border counties of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain by linking up with our projects in Manchester and London – and it’s been a privilege to spend time here in Sligo and the west of Ireland to meet young people, families and stakeholders from all parts of Ireland to see what they are achieving within the project.
“I look forward to seeing the Beyond The Ball project develop in the coming months and to seeing what we can achieve working together to enable these young people to reach their potential in Ireland and Northern Ireland by sharing experiences and learning with young people in England.”
ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED?
Minister of State Dara Calleary TD, who attended the event on behalf of the Irish Government said: “The Irish Government is proud to support the IFI’s Connecting Communities strategy and has agreed to provide €20m for the period from 2021– 2025. It is a worthwhile investment in peacebuilding.
“A key element of this partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, is the focus on relationship building and exploring shared identities and learning on an East-West, as well as North-South basis.
"This means we are exploring shared identities between our two islands through football, which we see today is a powerful and inspiring platform to bring young people and their communities together.”