Belfast screenings for new film showing how football has helped homeless people find light at end of tunnel

The film, in cinemas this week, was made by Lurgan producer Matthew Toman alongside director Daniel Holmes who came to Belfast via Chicago.

It was shot during the 2017 Homeless World Cup in Oslo and focuses on the Irish male and female teams, as well as team ambassador and Hollywood actor Colin Farrell.

Daniel recalls the game between Northern Ireland and the Republic: “That was a big match and is a big scene in the film.

“There is a bit of rivalry between them, it was a hard fought game, very physical, but the crazy thing is, they were all staying in the same hotel, both teams, and they became this big, big family, all hanging out all the time off the pitch.

“That’s one of the cool things about the Homeless World Cup, there’s a really high level of competition, but as soon as that whistle blows, no matter what the score, both of those teams are so supportive of each other.

“They’re a giant support network, there’s such a high level of inclusivity, that was reflected to an extreme degree with Northern Ireland and Ireland.”

Daniel, 31, whose father is from Belfast came to Northern Ireland as assistants to the directors of the hit film Good Vibrations which tells the story of Terri Hooley’s record label.

He began working on Street Leagues when he was approached by Matthew who has set up Bankhouse Productions in Dublin, to film what became a one-man job in Oslo.

He said: “We only had enough money to send just me. We didn’t have any other crew. Doing the sound and lighting myself had its challenges but it also meant I got a much closer relationship with those players as it was just me and them. They became my friends pretty quickly.

“Up to that point in my life I hadn’t had many personal interactions or relationships with those facing challenges like homelessness, like addiction.

“They’re so courageous in what they share, they can see the value in being able to help someone who might be in the same position as they were two years ago.

“It’s rare for anyone to go to the cinema and see themselves on screen. For them to do that and have what they say was the best experience of their life documented was really special. I’m grateful I was able to do that. They’ve been buzzing all the way through this process.”

One of the women’s players who features is Tara: “She’s in her forties, she had been on the streets for 20 years.

“Not long before she discovered Street Leagues she was at a point where she had no hope at all.

“She’s proof that it’s never too late. She found a way out.

“She’s so funny, so smart, so driven, so open about everything she’s been through.”

Of the Irish team’s ambassador Colin Farrell, Daniel said: “It’s not like a typical phoned in celebrity endorsement. Colin provides an alternative example of what addiction look like. He talks about how he was in rehab, how he was an alcoholic, how he was a drug addict, but he had a film career to step back into.

“People have a lot of preconceived notions about who ends up facing these challenges, whether it’s homelessness, whether it’s addiction, it all exists on a very wide spectrum. A lot of the time the only difference between how hard someone gets hit by it is the level of resources they have at their disposal to fight it.”

• Street Leagues will be shown at Odeon Cinema in Victoria Square and at The Omniplex, Kennedy Way in west Belfast.

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