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FIRST FEMALE FOOTBALL ACADEMY CHAPLAIN
Mary Vickers’ work as SCORE’s Chaplaincy
Coordinator for Women in Sport is both a national and a multi-sport role, as she tries to make contact, and network, with women across the country who are involved in sport, however they’re involved, and whatever
sport they’re involved with.
One of the first chaplaincies that Mary has managed to set up is at the Female Football Academy based at Filton College in Bristol. This was one of the first female football academies
in the UK, and in 2006 was awarded the coveted ‘Charter Standard Academy of the Year’ award by the Football Association.
 Knowing of a female minister in Bristol who was
interested in football chaplaincy, Mary approached the Academy and had meetings with the Head Coach, Claire Scanlan (pictured on the
left), herself a current international footballer with the Republic of Ireland squad as well as well as a club player and assistant coach at Bristol Academy Women’s FC (formerly Bristol Rovers Women’s FC).
Claire was interested in what she heard about
sports chaplaincy and decided to go ahead, with the result that Deborah Oughton (pictured on the right), a Salvation Army Officer in Knowle West in Bristol was appointed chaplain in Spring 2007.
Deborah herself writes: “My interest in football chaplaincy began as I watched my local
team, Rushden & Diamonds, play. After a few weeks they weren't just unidentifiable men kicking a ball around, they had names, they had hopes, they had dreams and sometimes these were not
realised. The watching spectators became more than just other faces in the crowd - they too had hopes and dreams - often resting on the 11 men playing in front of them. I imagine Jesus would
have enjoyed a good game of football with his disciples (if it had been invented then!). He would have identified with the enthusiasm, the team spirit, the support when the team was struggling as
well as the euphoria on winning silverware. I also saw the effects of drug abuse amongst the players and the effect it had on the fans - that feeling of being let down by their hero. And I
wanted to be there for them, to listen, to console and to show by my life that football can be part of the abundant life promised by Jesus - not the totality of it.”
This chaplaincy is a first for SCORE, for women’s football, and we think also for the Salvation
Army. As Claire Scanlan said at the outset “I think it will be a very exciting venture for us all!”
CRYSTAL PALACE CHANGES MORE THAN ITS PLAYING ROSTER:
Rev Nigel Sands, Club Chaplain at Crystal Palace, decided to retire at the end of the 2006-2007
season. Rev Sands, who has faithfully served Palace for 33 years, goes back to before the days of SCORE, when there were only 4-5 football club chaplains. And SCORE would like to take this
opportunity to publicly thank Nigel for his service to Palace and to the world of professional football. Without pioneers like Rev Sands, SCORE would not be what it is today.
 Rev Chris Roe, pastor of Folly’s End Church in
Croyden, will “officially” take over as chaplain of Crystal Palace Football Club at the start of the 20007-2008 season. Pastor Roe, pictured at right with his wife, Karen, tells us a little bit about
his introduction to the club.
“The last six months have been a time of transition, as Rev Nigel Sands has gradually & bowed out and I have phased in. The main word I
would use to describe my experience so far is “Favour”. I have been welcomed very warmly not only the management and players, but also by the staff.
Back in February I was interviewed by our local
paper, the “Croydon Advertiser”, and a few days later, manager Peter Taylor introduced me to the first team squad at the training ground, and invited me to stay for lunch. Since then, I’ve been to
the training ground on numerous occasions, and also go to reserve and youth team matches. I already feel like a part of the furniture on match days, following the routine set out by Rev Nigel,
of being in the changing room, then out and about mingling with stewards, staff, etc.
I feel very honoured to be given this opportunity as I`ve been a Palace supporter since I was a
young boy. I’m extremely grateful to Rev Nigel, who has been invaluable in helping me with my transition, and also to Rev Ray Dupere for his initial support, particularly in prayer.”
JOHN BOYERS VISITS NORTHERN IRELAND AGAIN
 In the Spring of 2007, Rev John Boyers,
SCORE's National Director, took part in a special service at Finaghy Methodist Church in Belfast, N. Ireland. Sunday evening saw a football themed sports service with several players, chaplains and
other sports people involved.
The names of the players, etc, are as follows:
BACK ROW (L to R): Stephen Collier (Bangor FC);
Phillip Mitchell (Ex Linfield, Glentoran and Ipswich Town); Michael Ferguson (Distillery).
FRONT ROW (L to R): Rev Bill Lavery (Seymour
Hill); Stephen Weatherall (Irish Referee); Rev Boyers (ManU & Score); Neil Alderdice (Distillery FC); Rev Billy Davison (Finaghy).
SCORE's work in Northern Ireland continues to progress and we are very grateful for the
support of those who work in chaplaincy, coaches and managers and others who work in Northern Irish football who see the significance of all we are trying to establish through chaplaincy.
SCORE NATIONAL DIRECTOR VISITS NORTHERN IRELAND
 In the Winter of 2007, Rev John Boyers, SCORE's National Director recently had a busy long weekend working with the churches in Co Armagh, N Ireland.
Events included a buffet Supper evening at the
Old Courthouse Restaurant in Markethill, a men's Breakfast in Dungannon, and services in Parish Churches in Grange, Loughgall & Cookstown. The weekend was rounded off with a big youth
outreach event at Cookstown. The picture a right includes a few of the 180 who attended the youth event showing off their sporting allegiances with John in the background!
For further info see the Co Armagh Anglican Youth website at www.adyc.co.uk.
SCORE TO SPONSOR 4 “Addictions & Sports People” SEMINARS
 Following the huge impact made by Peter Kaye (seen at right) of The
Sporting Chance Clinic at the 2006 Sports Chaplains’ Conference, many chaplains asked if we could organise a fuller half-day seminar with him on
“addictions and sports people.” Peter agreed to this and we organised four “big regional” meetings. The venues were Bristol City FC, West Ham
United FC, Manchester City FC, and Scunthorpe United FC. Many of those attending were chaplains but, in addition, some chaplains brought one or two from their club to hear Peter’s presentations. Various sorts of
addiction – alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling etc – were covered, and those present considered how we can be alert to “signs” and how we might react and respond if we suspect/are told of such problems.
HORNETS CHAPLAIN SAYS IT’S “TIME TO SAY GOOD-BYE
 Ray Dupere & his wife, Avril, decided that the time had come for them to return home to the United States. Ray, an American pastor, moved
to England in September of 2003 to work with SCORE as the Coordinator of Chaplaincy Development. During that time he has been based in the South of England and has worked out of the Watford
office. He has also served first as a co-Chaplain & then as Chaplain at Watford Football Club.
Though Avril & Ray enjoyed their time in England, for a while, they had
been feeling that they would like to get back into full-time pastoral ministry back in the States. Ray missed regularly preaching & teaching God's Word, and Avril missed being regularly involved in music &
women’s ministries, and they both missed the daily interaction with people that is a routine part of pastoring a local church. For all kinds of reasons they were torn between the work in England, and the yearning
in their hearts to return home. But they came to the place where they felt that God had shown them that it was the right decision at the time.
Ray’s final duties with SCORE involved the organisation & administration of the annual SCORE
Sports Chaplains Conference in Lilleshall on 3-5 October. After that they packed up their possesions for shipment and they then flew back to the US on 25 October 2006.
Ray & Avril would both like to say thank you to all those who made there stay in England so
enjoyable; and especially to their friends at St James Road Baptist Church in Watford.
Ray’s new ministry will be as Senior Pastor of Union Congregational Church (www.ucc-rockville.org) in Rockville, Connecticut in the US. If you would like to email Ray you can do so at dupere@juno.com.
CAMBRIDGE UNITED CHAPLAIN PROVES “CLEANLINESS” AND
“GODLINESS” GO HAND-IN-HAND
 The close season of 2006 at Cambridge United was a period
of much activity around the stadium and during the first week of the school holidays as every seat in the Main Stand was cleaned and made ready for the new season.
A group of enthusiastic youngsters from St Andrews Street Baptist Church and the New Life Church in Histon worked all day to 'spring clean' each Block from A to G.
 Fans' Director Brian Attmore said, "We are most
grateful for their hard work and enthusiasm in preparing this area of the ground for the coming season. They were invited back to the Abbey Stadium as our guests for a
game with West Ham and I am sure that they enjoyed the game, which was richly deserved."
This is one of a number of initiatives undertaken by United with the help of Club Chaplain Stuart Wood (above, with Brian) in introducing Youth Groups from
around Cambridge to become involved in Cambridge United.
ARE SPORTS CHAPLAINS WEAK LINKS?
 The Rev Alan Wright, Chaplain to Scunthorpe United Football Club has shown that at least one
SCORE Chaplain is not a “Weak Link”. Alan was on the BBC program, “The Weakest Link” on Monday 04 Sept 2006. He went down to London in April
to record the program, and had to wait five months to watch the results. And as it turned out, Alan actually won! He said that Anne Robinson did give them all a hard time, but obviously, he coped
well. Alan & his wife, Sue, are planning a trip to Cyprus to celebrate. Alan is pictured at right with Sue, & his daughter, Lizzie, & son, Paul.
NEW CHAPLAIN APPOINTED AT SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL
CLUB
 Score wants to formally thank the Rev David
Jeans, for his service to Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. In the Spring of 2006 David accepted the post of Dean of the College of the Southern Cross, within the College of St John the
Evangelist in Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand. One aspect of his Sheffield ministry which David will be sorry to shed is his chaplaincy to the Owls which, he says, has been his own
personal arena of mission for the past 16 seasons. David is followed in his role as chaplain by the Rev Peter Allen, who is pictured on the left with Jude Wilson, one of the maintenance workers at the club.
Peter originates from Sheffield, where he presently serves as curate at Christ Church
Hackenthorpe. Peter, who desires to serve the club with the same integrity that David Jeans has shown, is very happy to be able to serve the community at Hillsborough and is looking forward to
growing friendships in the years ahead. He first started his new duties at the club just before David left for New Zealand in April. Although he realises he is on quite a sharp learning curve,
people at the club have been extremely welcoming and are taking time to explain how things work in their own particular department. He recently attended the academy signing-on evening where I
was introduced as part of the overall team provided by the club for those signing on and their parents/carers.
Peter attended Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism for 3 years, and was commissioned as a
Church Army evangelist in 1995. He first served in South London for 3 years as a parish evangelist, and then as minister-in-charge at Hednesford, Staffs for 4 years. In 2002 he returned to
theological college in Birmingham, and was ordained as an Anglican clergyman in 2004. After ordination, he moved back to Sheffield where he now lives with Marian, his wife of 21 years. They
have three children, Joe 18, Lydia 16 and Charles 14. And Peter quickly adds that both lads are Wed's fans.
SCORE CHAPLAINS LAUNCH NEW BOOK
JEFFREY HESKINS & MATT BAKER (CO-CHAPLAINS AT CHARLTON ATHLETIC
FOOTBALL CLUB) HAVE JUST LAUNCHED THEIR NEW BOOK ON THE BEAUTIFUL GAME FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FOOTBALL CLUB CHAPLAINS.
 About 150 people turned out at Charlton Athletic Football Club on Monday (5 June 2006) for a special reception to celebrate the launch
of a new book entitled ”Footballing Lives”. Editors, Jeffrey Heskins & Matt Baker (seen at left with Richard Rufus), signed copies at the
club Superstore before attending the reception. Rev Mary Vickers (Chaplain to Women in Sports) & Rev Chris Cullwick (York City FC Chaplain), who each contributed a chapter to the book, also
attended the reception. Initial sales are going well. One supplier has already ordered 1,000 copies; and the publishers, Canterbury Press, have already decided to do a reprint. An additional
reception will be held later in October at Score’s annual Sports Chaplains Conference in Lilleshall.
 The book is a collection of about fifteen chapters which cover various subjects such as 'What is a Chaplain & Where Do They Come
From?', 'Coping With Success & Failure', 'Promotion & Relegation', 'Life After Football', 'Sports Chaplaincy Beyond Football', etc.
Most of the chapters were written by chaplains
currently working with clubs in the English leagues. Besides Charlton Athletic, some of the clubs represented include Manchester United, Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers, Millwall, Watford,
Leyton Orient, Rushden & Diamonds and York City. In addition the book has a ground breaking chapter on women's football and chaplaincy to women in sport.
The book is not a tell-all giving juicy insights into the private lives of footballers, rather it is as the
sub-title indicates, a look at life in football as seen by chaplains in the beautiful game.
For your information, you can order the book at Amazon.co.uk or at Wesley Owen.com.
SCORE CHAPLAIN BECOMES THE NEW BISHOP OF SHERWOOD
 The Rev'd Canon Antony (Tony) Porter was consecrated as the new Bishop of Sherwood at York Minster Cathedral on Tuesday (21 March
2006). Prior to his new appointment, Tony was Rector of Holy Trinity, Rusholme, in Manchester. Also prior to his new assignment, Tony was the Chaplain to Manchester City Football Club. Tony
is seen at right with his wife, Lucille, and the MCFC Chairman, John Wardle, and the Manager, Stuart Pearce.
In his new position, Tony will have specific
responsibilities relating to the civic, commercial and industrial life of the City of Nottingham. This focus will certainly be in keeping with Tony's commitment to be with people wherever they are in
the world. Tony spent almost 10 years as chaplain to Manchester City Football Club, where he has formed strong friendships with many of the players. Stuart Pearce, the Club Manager, is a former
Nottingham Forest player and a good personal friend.
We at Score
want to congratulate Tony on his new expanded role; and we pray for God's abundant blessing on all that he seeks to accomplish in Nottingham. And we trust that God might allow for
this to include an expanded role in sports chaplaincy as well.
ADDITIONS TO THE NEWSBOARD
If any club or sport chaplains have any items to add to the Newsboard, please contact Ray Dupere
using the email page on this website.
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