A junior church football tournament is kicking off in Ballinamallard next week and teams of young people from all faiths in Fermanagh are being encouraged to enter.

The tournament will take place on Thursday, May 5 at Fisher Park in Ballinamallard, starting at 6pm.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Naomi Armstrong, youth and family worker, Ballinamallard Youth Ministry, explained that she was inspired to organise the tournament after seeing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people in the area, in terms of socialisation, particularly within churches.

With the young people of her youth group in Ballinamallard showing an interest in taking part in a football tournament, Naomi decided to seize the opportunity to host an event and open it up to churches across Fermanagh to encourage socialisation.

“It’s open to all denominations in Fermanagh, it’s cross-community,” she said.

The tournament, which is for young people under the age of 16, will be seven-aside, with each team having the option of three substitutes. However, Naomi noted that substitutes are not compulsory.

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“There are two perpetual cups, there is a girls perpetual cup and there’s a boys one as well but within the boys tournament, if they can’t make a full girls team, there is the option for a mixed team but they’ll be put in with the boys’ side.

“The two tournaments will run side by side,” she explained.

A keen footballer herself, Naomi has played in the past for Ambassadors Football, a global organisation whose aim is to connect people to Jesus through football. Through Ambassadors, she has personally seen the benefits of sport and ministry.

Sport and ministry

She said: “Football was always my chosen sport when I was younger. I played at a competitive level, I see the benefits of sport and ministry linking in.

“I used to play for Ambassadors, Portadown based, and seeing how they role modelled that, it’s always remained with me. I played with them for a couple of seasons. I’ve taken something away from that experience and it’s inspired me.”

In organising the upcoming junior church football tournament, Naomi is grateful for the support of Gordon Lee, a key organiser of The Barnabas Cup, a tournament for local churches at Fisher Park.

“He is the practical hands, helping with setting up the tournament itself. He’ll be doing fixtures and behind the scenes work,” she said.

If you are interested in entering a team to compete in the tournament, contact Naomi via naomi.armstrong@irishmethodist.org.