The relationship between the PFA and Sporting Chance began in 2002 when, through their founder Tony Adams, they approached the players’ union with regard to providing alcohol awareness seminars to scholars at Premier League and Football League clubs.
The relationship developed from there and in July 2003 the PFA became the major sponsor of Sporting Chance providing funding, not only for the education of scholars and professionals with regard to addiction, anger management and also lifestyle skills, but also provide assessment, counselling and where appropriate rehabilitation for current and former members who are experiencing problems with addiction.
We are proud and delighted to continue with out support of Sporting Chance, and the assistance it provides, and it is also rewarding to have the efforts of all involved being acknowledged by football clubs up and down the country.
John Barry
John Barry, the Education Welfare Officer at Middlesbrough FC, wrote to the PFA recently concerning the programme that Sporting Chance are delivering to Football League clubs on behalf of the PFA and League Football Education (LFE).
As a major funder of both Sporting Chance and LFE it is always fantastic to receive such positive feedback.
John said: “This presentation was one of the most powerful and apposite I have seen for young players. I had misgivings that it may have been outside the lads’ experience and for some it was but it made a big impression on them and a number thanked me as they left the room.
“I personally felt very humble that people were prepared to recount what had been for them nightmare experiences in order to safeguard others. They are to be commended for their honesty and bravery and you are to be commended for supporting them and through them the players.”
Richard Dobson
We are also grateful to Richard Dobson, the Head of Youth at Wycombe Wanderers, for his kind words following what he describes as ‘an excellent presentation’ to the young players at his club.
Richard says: “Our apprentices were engaged throughout the presentation and the feedback that they have given me following the visit has been extremely interesting. Many of the lads were unaware just how much the pressures that young footballers can find themselves under can influence them and the people around them.
“They said that they have been given invaluable advice in how to address those pressures and how to avoid the mistakes that others have made.
“I would recommend The Sporting Chance Clinic's presentation to any professional football club and am sure that by increasing the awareness of the potential dangers associated with footballers’ lifestyles through presentations such as this one, they are preventing cases of addiction and abuse in footballers further down the line.”
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