Irish homeless team triumphs in Pep’s Manchester tournament

An Irish soccer team has triumphed at a prestigious competition for homeless services backed by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Against all odds, the Irish Salvation Army soccer team, Houben Hurricanes, from Houben House family hub in Dublin’s Harold’s Cross, won the Partnership Plate at the annual competition in Manchester.

The team beat The Bulldogs 4-2 to win the plate in the competition involving 25 teams from Ireland and the UK.

English soccer legend Stuart Pearce presented the Partnership Plate to the Irish captain Gerard Cramer during an emotional ceremony after the final.

The five-a-side tournament for residents and staff is supported by the Guardiola Sala Foundation, which was set up by Pep Guardiola.

Pep and his family have been keen supporters of the Salvation Army competition for the past six years.

The tournament, in its fourteenth year, aims to raise awareness of homelessness, boost morale and improve wellbeing and mental health.

“It’s so encouraging to witness how football can bring people together and help them overcome tough personal challenges,” said Guardiola.

Houben Hurricanes House goalie MD Moshiur Rahman also won the golden glove for goalkeeping.

Apart from the Houben House team the Irish Salvation Army had two other teams in the tournament, one from Centenary House and a combined team from Greencastle and Clonard Road family hubs.

Irish coach Paul Brierton said that the Houben House team, ranging in age from 19 to 55, had no experience and had been jokingly referred to as football “misfits”.

”I was determined to prove the critics wrong when it was said we were a bunch of no-hopers,” he said.

“I said: ‘lads go out and enjoy yourselves, and if you win, you win, but the main thing is to bring back memories for yourselves and your families.’

“I’m so, so proud of them all and what they have achieved. They always believed in themselves. I was filled with emotion when they were presented with the plate.”

Paul, a night support worker with The Salvation Army, thanked Julie Swann, Houben House Program Manager, and Anthony Byrne Services Manager, for their unflinching support.

Manchester City player Kalvin Phillips (pictured above) congratulated the Irish team after their win.

The Houben facility is the country’s largest family homeless hub housing 67 families from Ireland and abroad.

Overall, the Irish Salvation Army currently have 119 families living in their family services in Houben, Greencastle and Clonard Road, 227 adults and 303 children.

When a family arrives at the facilities, they are met by a keyworker who supports them and offers employment housing workshops and programs to help towards long-term independent living.

The Salvation Army is a church and a charity, one of the largest providers of homeless services in Ireland, supplying 250,000 bed nights a year in its six individual and family homeless centres across Dublin. Go to the Salvation Army ROI on Facebook for more updates.