1. Sport for Development in a Post Conflict Society
a conference to raise awareness of the power of sport
Londonderry YMCA & Ulster Business School
University of Ulster Magee
29 November 2013

3. More RESPECT for good relations: The power of sport
by Allan Leonard
29 November 2013
Londonderry YMCA, in partnership with the University of Ulster (Magee), held a
conference to "raise awareness of the power of sport in building more peaceful,
prosperous, healthy, inclusive and welcoming communities".
Entitled "Sport for Development in a Post Conflict Society", the event highlighted the
positive impact that organised sporting activities can deliver, especially at a grassroots
level:

4. • Crime/Anti-Social Behaviour ("A child in sport is a child out of court")
• Education (Attendance and Attainment)
• Health
• Community Cohesion
• Inclusion/Good Relations/Sectarianism and Racism
• Participation
• Economy and Employment
• Peace building
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-01-adrian-johnston
Dr Adrian Johnston (Chairperson, Londonderry YMCA) welcomed the delegates and
provided some introductory remarks. He explained the amalgamation of the role of sport
and good community relations. Dr Johnston viewed sport as a catalyst for social
regeneration.
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-02-lisa-bradley
Lisa Bradley (Ulster Business School) declared the need to go direct to hard to reach
communities, and how sport was a proven method that works. From her business
orientation, she described how sport includes management leadership skills (e.g.
refereeing), which is what employers do look for in recruiting staff.
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-03-catherine-cooke
Chairperson of the Northwest PEACE III Partnership, Catherine Cooke, lauded the RESPECT
programme as a successful model, one that had a transformative effect on all those
involved: "RESPECT shows how different communities can participate together."
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-04-trevor-ringland
The keynote speaker was Trevor Ringland, a former Ireland international rugby player
who joked, "When I scored a try against England, apparently both sides of the Maze
(Prison) cheered!"
Mr Ringland described the Northern Ireland peace process as one that began with conflict,
evolving through paramilitary ceasefires, a cold war of stalemate to political agreement, to
today's situation, which he called "a cold peace".
"We need to create a warm peace," Mr Ringland suggested.
For him, a beauty of sport is that everyone involved care -- there is the emotion of hate, to
defeat your adversary at that point in time, without the hating. There is the conflict without
the destruction.

5. Mr Ringland gave a personal review of his sporting career, how he personally developed as
his career progressed. There was a stark juxtaposition between the freedom of the pitch
and the fear for his father's safety as a policeman: "The tricolour I played under was
inclusive, versus the tricolour that wanted to kill my dad."
For this veteran, a rugby team is a classic example of an interdependent society, including
its aspect of suddenly finding yourself having to play a different role, temporarily, to
support the larger group. He gave examples of how sport shows us that we can highlight
different identities at different times, across different sports. Mr Ringland called on
everyone to show all sporting symbols more respect.
He underlined the spirit that sport can bring to society, through personal friendships and
transforming relationships: "Shared future happens day in and day out here. We just don't
celebrate it the way we should."
Mr Ringland concluded with optimism about creating the future we want, citing examples
of the Game of Three Halves as well as the work of the basketball programme, Peace
Players International, with its purposeful community relations dimension.
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-05-william-lamrock
Willie Lamrock (General Secretary, Londonderry YMCA) provided a background review of
the RESPECT programme, which targeted low capacity, grassroots sports clubs in need to
secure their operational sustainability.
RESPECT involved four local government district councils, and brought together 76 clubs.
All clubs undertook a good relations programme as well as implementing a code of conduct,
covering club officers, coaches and spectators. Other achievements included 174
individuals who went through first aid training and 192 through child protection training.
£48,000 worth of practice and game kit was also given to the clubs, all with the RESPECT
logo.
Mr Lamrock concluded with a call to the Northern Ireland Executive to invest in this work,
especially for the social benefits that it brings to the participants and wider community
good.
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-06-lee-williamson
Lee Williamson, a Deputy Principal at OFMdFM, spoke to the Government's current
community relations policy, Together: Building a United Community. In specific regard to
sport, he acknowledged the positive societal impact that sport can have, bringing people
together for mutual interest. Here, he cited the cross-community sports programme
supported by the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-07-brenda-kelly

6. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203067549/NIF-20131129-Sport-Post-Conflict-07-Brenda-
Kelly-Sported
Brenda Kelly (Northern Ireland Regional Manager for Sported) described the motivating
ethos of her organisation as supporting sport for social change, particularly in smaller clubs
and grassroots groups. Sported opened up in Northern Ireland in March 2012, with now
200 member clubs from all six counties, £170,000 awarded in small grants, and 18 trained
volunteer mentors.
Ms Kelly made a direct appeal to the audience to increase the awareness in the Northwest
of Sported's work, and identify candidates to become Sported mentors to assist clubs.
She explained their research work, which was carried out to determine and quantify the
causal relationships between sporting programmes and social outcomes. The outcome was
a monetary quantification of the effectiveness of various interventions. This has enabled
sport organisations to make more focussed and successful fundraising appeals.
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-08-justin-mcminn
http://youtu.be/6P_if1eiXBo
http://www.scribd.com/doc/203068785/NIF-20131129-Sport-Post-Conflict-08-Justin-
McMinn-NI-Street-League
Justin McMinn provided a background description to the creation of the Northern Ireland
Street League, which was set up for disadvantaged communities:
•homeless
•drug and alcohol dependents
•asylum seekers and refugees
•long-term unemployed
•other disadvantaged persons
The five-a-side football teams play for two hours every Friday, in Belfast and Derry-
Londonderry. The teams play four games per week, on 3G (artificial turf) pitches.
He listed a long set of benefits that football has brought to the participants: playing a team
activity, improving one’s physical and mental health, instilling discipline, improving
motivation, and breaking down sectarian barriers. Perhaps most significantly, players
develop relationships with people that they would not otherwise meet.
Mr McMinn annotated a series of images, telling the story of how the Northern Ireland
Street League qualified and competed in the Homeless World Cup.
His ambitions for the future include:

7. •Grow the Street League in Belfast and the Northwest
•Encourage female participation
•Have a female team qualify for the Homeless World Cup
•Provide training for vocational qualifications and employment
•Provide referee courses
•Build own Homeless World Cup pitches
•Fundraising
•Reach out to more excluded groups (e.g. probation/prisoners)
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-09-kyle-ferguson
http://www.scribd.com/doc/203069267/NIF-20131129-Sport-Post-Conflict-09-Kyle-
Ferguson-UU
Kyle Ferguson described the aims of their “Sport for Peace” research project (Social
Exclusion and Sport in Northern Ireland):
“To embed good practice among local organisations, in reconciliation, racism and
sectarianism, through sports and activities, to produce models of best practice.”
He elaborated on the principle of using sport to reduce barriers of interaction, reinforce
trust and develop mutual cooperation. For example, this could be changing a training day
for the sake of improved social inclusion. Mr Ferguson added that we need to act better on
this principle, and recognise those who do take risks in this regard. This is exemplified in
the Community Leader Awards that take place.
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-10-sean-barr
http://www.scribd.com/doc/203067554/NIF-20131129-Sport-Post-Conflict-10-Sean-
Barr-WELB
Sean Barr, from the Western Education & Library Board, started by stating a well-known
fact -- Northern Ireland segregates its pupils in all forms -- denomination, gender, language,
and preliminary academic capacity.
Key indicators towards educational attainment are:
• Social deprivation
• Family
• School
• Community organisations
• Gender
Mr Barr pointed to research that shows that social class (social deprivation) is the biggest
indicator of how well one does in school. He also put forward that as 80% of learning
happens outside the school classroom, there is a vital role for schools’ engagement with

8. families. Schools as institutions exist alongside parents and the wider community; school
linkages are important. Community organisations need to consider how they can build
social capital, through supporting education. Finally, why is gender disparity in education
so salient in Northern Ireland, with certain boys faring so poorly?
In regards to the role of sport and education, Mr Barr presented the following contrasts:
•Magnet or Repellent (bring people together or keeps them separated)
•Winning or Well-being (aiming to win or other general objectives)
•Competition or Collaboration (all-or-nothing or teamwork)
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-11-michael-mccusker
http://www.scribd.com/doc/203067565/NIF-20131129-Sport-Post-Conflict-11-Michael-
McCusker-STRIVE-NI
Michael McCusker runs Strive NI, which is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that
develops local sport for an improved infrastructure to tackle a range of social issues.
He seeks to develop consortia, to bring a range of skill sets, competencies and like-minded
people together, focussed on delivering better outcomes for our most at-risk youth.
Mr McCusker gave examples of challenges that coaches face in dealing with social problems
in certain locales.
He also highlighted the challenges of applying sport in community relations work. That is,
sport cannot be a substitute itself for an individual’s self-identity and pathway for life.
Mr McCusker was asking us to think harder about the role of sport. He recommended the
book, Sport for Development: What Game are HYPERLINK
"http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sport-Development-What-game-playing/dp/0415567033/"We
HYPERLINK "http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sport-Development-What-game-
playing/dp/0415567033/" Playing?, by Fred Coalter.
https://soundcloud.com/mrulster/20131129-ymca-12-gary-mcclean
Gary McClean (RESPECT Project Manager) summarised the speakers’ presentations, before
inviting everyone to participate in a workshop discussion that took place after a lunch
break.
Gary McClean recapped on the following points:
• The importance of the “EU White Paper on Sport - 2007”:
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content/EN/TXT/?qid=1389190214279&uri=CELEX:52007DC0391"& HYPERLINK

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content/EN/TXT/?qid=1389190214279&uri=CELEX:52007DC0391"uri=CELEX:52
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• The Power of Sport to tackle social issues in the community including health,
business, employment, citizenship, good relations etc..
• That the Governmental Budgets should reflect this and be re-structured to support
clubs whose volunteerism is limited and by their lack of resources
• Outlined the importance of the SPORTED document “ SPORTSWORKS - investing in
Sport for Development - Creating the business case to help change the lives of
disadvantaged young people in the UK”:
http://www.sported.org.uk/media/60936/sportworks_summary_low_res.pdf
• A problem is that Sports Development is not cohesive and good work is being done
piece meal; and it needs to realise change to be harnessed to make positive impacts
on the communities
• Clubs through RESPECT, the participants here at Magee and the other initiatives we
have discussed today are starting to realise the importance to society of Sports
Development and Community Development especially bringing together Sports
Clubs and the Community for the benefit of all.
• The messages from this conference need to be communicated to government
departments from the grassroots up to the top and back down again.
Emerging issues from the workshop discussion included:
• Continuity of good practice:
• Clubmark badges bronze silver gold
• Good Relations Charter showing that the club not only has signed up to anti –
sectarian / racism / sexist etc. practise but are pro actively implementing
them in their day to day activities in the sports community
• Working Sports Hubs in local areas reaching across sports and community
divisions
• Involvement in Community Development where the clubs and hubs are more
involved in community issues
• Funding by Northern Ireland Executive:
• The importance of sport to the realisation of “Together Building a United
Community” and other wider societal initiatives such as mental / physical
health, employment, business, law and order ones etc. and that Sports
importance is raised at departmental and political party level.

10. • Forming a lobby group (forum, campaigning):
• To enable 2. (above) to be developed with relevant community, voluntary,
political and statutory organisations and associations.
• Developing a cohesive approach among sporting organisations:
• As with 3.
• To provide agreed standards for Clubmark, Good Relations, Child Protection
etc.
• Pulling together individual work as evidence:
• Utilising national and international research and reports from University of
Ulster, Sported and other relevant interested organisations
• Utilising local research and reports exploring the role of schools and their
relationships with sports and youth clubs, investigate the Sports Forum
Strabane etc..
• Formation of a Sport Resource Centre:
• Providing information and advice on sporting issues
• Providing information and advice on governance
• Providing a focus for networking and development
• Supplying good relations guidance and training for clubs
• Direct and advise clubs on sustainability and funding
Selected thoughts from the conference:
• Adrian Johnston explained the amalgamation of the role of sport and good
community relations and viewed sport as a catalyst for social regeneration.
• Lisa Bradley declared the need to go direct to hard to reach communities, and how
sport was a proven method that works.
• Trevor Ringland espoused that the Northern Ireland peace process as one that
began with conflict, evolving through paramilitary ceasefires, a cold war of
stalemate to political agreement, to today's situation, which he called “a cold peace;
we need to create a warm peace”.
• Catherine Cooke, lauded the RESPECT programme as a successful model, one that
had a transformative effect on all those involved: “RESPECT shows how different
communities can participate together.”

11. • William Lamrock concluded with a call to the Northern Ireland Executive to invest
in this work, especially for the social benefits that it brings to the participants and
wider community good.
• Lee Williamson acknowledged the positive societal impact that sport can have,
bringing people together for mutual interest.
• Brenda Kelly explained their (SPORTED) research work, which was carried out to
determine and quantify the causal relationships between sporting programmes and
social outcomes. The outcome was a monetary quantification of the effectiveness of
various interventions.
• Justin McMinn listed a long set of benefits that football has brought to the
participants: playing a team activity, improving one’s physical and mental health,
instilling discipline, improving motivation, and breaking down sectarian barriers.
Perhaps most significantly, players develop relationships with people that they
would not otherwise meet.
• Kyle Ferguson elaborated on the principle of using sport to reduce barriers of
interaction, reinforce trust and develop mutual cooperation. For example, this could
be changing a training day for the sake of improved social inclusion.
• Sean Barr pointed to research that shows that social class (social deprivation) is the
biggest indicator of how well one does in school. He also put forward that as 80% of
learning happens outside the school classroom.
• Mr McCusker highlighted the challenges of applying sport in community relations
work. That is, sport cannot be a substitute itself for an individual’s self-identity and
pathway for life.
• Gary McClean outlined that a problem is that Sports Development is not cohesive
and good work is being done piece meal; and it needs to realise change to be
harnessed to make positive impacts on the communities
All agreed that this event was a good start, a collection of like-minded enthusiasts. But
further group action is needed, particularly for the objective of wider society (and
especially elected representatives) to take sport more seriously in developing good
relations in Northern Ireland.

16. APPENDICES
RESPECT II Programme Objectives
• Increasing the confidence and capacity to build on change, addressing racism and
sectarianism
• Targeting low capacity, grassroots sports clubs in a developmental process that
increases their sustainability
• Focusing on improving attitudes among young members of sports clubs on issues of
sectarianism and racism
• Providing opportunities for clubs from different traditions/cultures to engage in a
developmental learning process
Origins of RESPECT
With reference to the European Union White Paper on Sport (2007):
Using the potential of sport for social inclusion, integration and equal opportunities, we are
told that sport makes an important contribution to economic and social cohesion and more
integrated societies.
The specific needs and situation of underrepresented groupsneeds to be addressed, and
the special role sport can play for young people, people with disabilities, and people from
less privileged backgrounds must be taken into account.
Sport can also facilitate the integration into society of migrants and persons of foreign
origin, as well as support inter-cultural dialogue.
Sport promotes a shared sense of belonging and participation, and may therefore also be an
important tool for the integration of immigrants. It is in this context that supporting sport
related activities is important for allowing immigrants and the host society to interact
together in a positive way.
Non-profit sport activities contributing to social cohesion and social inclusion of vulnerable
groups can be considered as social services of general interests.
RESPECT Project
Participant Clubs
Derry City Council area:

17. • Ardmore CC
• Bonds Glen CC
• Claudy United FC
• Culmore FC
• Drumahoe FC
• Eglinton CC
• Eglinton Eagles FC
• Eglinton FC
• Foyle HC
• Glendermott CC
• Glendermott FC
• Institute FC
• Irish Street FC
• John Mitchels GAC
• Kerala Tigers FC
• Lincoln Court FC
• NA Pairsaigh Doire CLG
• Oxford United FC
• Phoenix FC
• Priorian Ladies HC
• Rosemount FC
• St Marys GAC Ardmore
• Tamnaherin FC
• TOTH Youth and Community FC
• Trojans FC
• Tullyally Colts FC
• YMCA RFC
Strabane District Council area:
• Ardstraw FC
• Bready CC
• Derg Valley Ladies HC
• Dergvalley Junior HC
• Dergview Juniors FC
• Donemana CC
• Fox Lodge CC
• Foyle Wanders FC
• Glebe United FC
• Glenelly GFC
• Killen Rangers FC
• Killyclooney CC
• Owen Roe O’Neill’s GAA
• Riversdale Otters ASC
• Sion Mills CC
• Sion Mills FC
• Sion Swifts FC
• Sion Swifts Ladies FC
• Spamount Swifts FC
• St Eugene’s GAA Castlederg

18. • St Eugene’s GAC Newtownstewart
• Strabane CC
• Strabane RFC
• Strabane Sigersons GAA
• Two Castles ABC
• Urney GFC
Omagh District Council area:
•
• Badoney Ladies GAC
• Carrickmore ABC
• Drumquin United FC
• Drumragh Sarsfields GAA
• Omagh Academicals RFC
• Omagh HC
• Omagh St Enda’s GAA
• Sacred Heart ABC
• St Patrick’s GAA Gortin
• St Patrick’s GAA Tattyreagh
• Strule Dolphins ASC
• Tummery Athletic FC
Donegal County Council area:
• Finn Valley RFC
• Kildrum Tigers FC
• Letterkenny RFC
• Naomh Colmcille
• Naomh Mhuire GAA Convoy
• Raphoe Ladies HC
• Raphoe Town FC
• St Johnston CC
• Tullyvinney Rovers FC
Conference Objective
“Sport for Development in a Post Conflict Society”
University of Ulster Magee
29 November 2013
This conference seeks to raise awareness of the power of sport in building more peaceful,
prosperous, healthy, inclusive and welcoming communities.
The event seeks to highlight the positive impact that organised sporting activities can
deliver, at a grassroots level, on issues such as:

19. •
•Crime/Anti-Social Behaviour
•Education
•Health
•Community Cohesion
•Inclusion/Good Relations/
Sectarianism & Racism
•Participation
•Economy and Employment
•Peace-Building
In addition, we would hope that this conference would act as a catalyst for discussion
between a variety of government departments, statutory agencies and grassroots
community sports clubs, on strategies for collaborative working.
The theme of these future conversations would allow an exploration of how grassroots
sports clubs could, through a participatory approach, assist government departments and
statutory agencies meet their aims and objectives.
Delegates will come from a variety of backgrounds, including:
•
• Grassroots sports clubs
• Sports governing bodies
• Sports Council
• Local and national politicians
• Government departments:
• OFMdFM
• Department of Justice
(PSNI, PBNI, Youth Justice)
• Department for Social Development (Neighbourhood Renewal)
• Department of Culture, Art & Leisure
• Department of Employment & Learning
• Department of Education
• Department of Health & Social Services
• Funding programmes:
• PEACE III
• Community Relations Council
• Local District Councils (Community; Good Relations; and Sports Development):
• Derry City Council
• Strabane Borough Council
• Omagh Borough Council
Brian Dougherty (Director, St Columb’s Park House) will be the compere of proceedings.

20. The RESPECT programme is supported by the European Union PEACE III Programme,
managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and delivered by the Northwest
PEACE III Partnership.
Conference Speaker Profiles
Sean Barr
Sean is a WELB, CASS, Faculty Member, and has authored papers:
“Towards educational inclusion in a contested society: From critical analysis to creative
action” and “Towards educational inclusion in a transforming society: Some lessons from
community relations and special needs education in Northern Ireland”. He is a member of
the TRIAX Neighbourhood Renewal Board.
Brian Dougherty
Brian has been involved in the voluntary and community sector for over
20 years. Previously a development worker for the Tullyally and District Development
Group, he is currently Director of St Columb’s Park House Centre for Reconciliation in
Derry-Londonderry. St Columb’s is involved in a range of community relations and
citizenship programmes, working with young, marginalised and unemployed people, as
well as with ex-prisoner groups and local loyalist bands. Brian is currently chairperson of
the Waterside Area Partnership, and is a board member of the Community Foundation
Northern Ireland, the Waterside Neighbourhood Renewal Board, TRIAX, Cathedral Youth
Club (Fountain Estate), Apex Housing Association, and Bonds Street Community
Association.
Kyle Ferguson

21. Kyle has more than 25 years’ experience in sports coaching,
development and management. He currently manages the sports research and consultancy
unit at the University of Ulster Sports Academy, successfully designing and delivering
various local, national and international sports related projects. Kyle’s specialty is in the
area of sport for development, having recently completed the North East Sport for Peace
Project, and delivered a European-wide social inclusion through sport for minority group
project, funded by the European Union Sports Union. This work has provided a unique
insight on the similarities of sport for development, on a global context, creating templates
to share knowledge and connect sectors in the field.
Adrian Johnston
Adrian is an engineer with Seagate Technology (Ireland), where he
identifies and implements collaborative research projects, including large, cross-border
research initiatives. He is chairman of Londonderry YMCA, and has a strong interest in
community, youth work and economic regeneration (particularly in the Northwest of
Ireland). Adrian was appointed to the International Fund for Ireland board in 2009, and is
currently its chairperson. He is an avid rugby player, and plays for Londonderry YMCA.
Brenda Kelly
Brenda is the Northern Ireland Manager of Sported, and has worked for
20 years in the voluntary and community sector, both in England and Northern Ireland. She
has experience of working with groups, to develop their capacity in a range of areas, such
as good governance, strategic planning, involving volunteers and managing staff. Brenda is
passionate about supporting third-sector organisations, with firsthand experience of seeing
how improved capacity enables better delivery of their work. Examples are as facilitator for
Community Change, as well as her work in the Community Leadership Programme. The
Sported Foundation works with over 2,500 organisations across the UK, including over 200

22. member groups in Northern Ireland, empowering community groups to improve the lives
of disadvantaged young people through sport. Created by Sir Keith Mills GBE (Deputy Chair
of the London Organising Committee of the 2012 Olympic Games), the Sported Foundation
has been operating in Northern Ireland since 2012.
William Lamrock
William has been general secretary of Londonderry YMCA for the past
12 years, previously working for Northern Ireland Electricity as a Fault and Emergency
manager for nearly 30 years. The YMCA has seen much growth, adding many new projects
to its programme. William serves on the boards of Northwest PEACE III Partnership, ARC
Northwest LAG (Rural), Lisneal College, National Council of YMCA Ireland, Strategy Board
(Londonderry), and the Waterside Neighbourhood Renewal Board (co-chair). He is also
chair of DARD’s Thematic Working Group on Children and Young People. William is
involved in rugby administration, both within his club and the Ulster Branch of the IRFU.
Gary McClean
Gary has been working in the field of community development and
peace-building, since graduating in 2001 with a BA (Hons) degree in Peace and Conflict
Studies. He brings a wealth of experience and skills from his time working at sectarian
interfaces, both in Derry-Londonderry and Belfast, as well as from working within
communities suffering from high levels of social deprivation. For the past two years, Gary
has been responsible for delivering the high successful RESPECT project, with Londonderry
YMCA.
Michael McCusker
Michael is focussed and committed to work solely with youth at risk
within Northern Ireland, which he explains as being grounded on his own personal

23. experiences, having left school with no formal qualifications and falling into situations that
he did not have the coping strategies or resilience to handle. The delivery of his services is
embedded within a resilience methodology that also reflects his personal values. Michael
has experience of working across police and community safety partnerships,
neighbourhood renewal partnerships, District Councils, foundations, trusts, public health
agencies, multi-disciplinary teams, training providers, local community organisations,
Commonwealth Sports Advisory, and with funding organisations, including: PEACE III,
Comic Relief, British Council, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, Paul
Hamlyn Foundation, Belfast Health Department Unit, and Youth Justice.
Justin McMinn
Justin is the coordinator of the Northern Ireland Street League/East
Belfast Mission. His involvement began while working at a homeless hostel in Belfast. Justin
always had a passion for football, and with the hostel’s manager, he developed and
implemented a league for homeless people -- the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. With
support from the Irish Football Association and other sport development organisations, it
has been possible to set up another league in Derry-Londonderry as well as organise a
Northern Ireland team to go to the 2012 Homeless World Cup in Poznan.
Trevor Ringland
Trevor made 31 competitive appearances for Ireland, scoring nine tries.
The majority of his appearances came in the Five Nations tournament, with the remainder
coming in the 1987 Rugby World Cup. Since retirement, he has coached at Ballymena, and
been a committee member of the Irish Rugby Football Union. In 2006, he was appointed as
a member of the new Northern Ireland Policing Board. Trevor is a director of Independent
News & Media, Mediation Northern Ireland, and The Ireland Funds. He is also active with
Peace Players International, an organisation devoted to promote inter-religious unity in
Belfast, through sport. With David Cullen, Trevor won the 2007 ESPY Arthur Ashe for
Courage Award. He was also awarded an MBE for services to the community in Northern
Ireland, in the New Years Honours 2009.
Lee Williamson

24. Lee is a Deputy Principal in the United Community Policy Branch in the
Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMdFM). He has been in the
Northern Ireland Civil Service for ten years. Lee’s work experience includes disability
discrimination legislation, and the regeneration of the Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast.
Conference Invitees List
• Claire Adams (Irish Football Association)
• Louise Allen (Sports Development - Derry City Council)
• William Anderson (Institute FC)
• Sandra Armstrong (PCSP - Omagh District Council)
• Gemma Attwood (Community Relations Council)
• Michael Barr (Sports Development - Derry City Council)
• Sean Begley (PEACE III Partnership - Omagh District Council)
• Stephen Bloomer (University of Ulster (Magee))
• Nigel Boyd (Ardstraw FC)
• Angela Callaghan (PCSP - Omagh District Council)
• Patricia Cameron (Limavady Borough Council)
• Teresa Canavan (Rural Development Council)
• Alexander Cardenas (INCORE)
• Andy Chapman (Limavady Borough Council)
• Lynn Clyde (Round Tower Youth)
• James Colhoun (Killyclooney Cricket Club)
• Anthony Connolly (Ski Ability NI)
• Margaret Connolly (Ski Ability NI)
• Martin Connolly (CRJ)
• Michael Cooke (Sport NI)
• Ken Craig (Eglinton CC)
• Noel Crampsey (Oxford United Stars FC)
• Sean Curran (Groundwork)
• Christopher Curran (St Columb’s Park House)
• Ryan Deighan (Sports Development - Derry City Council)
• Joe Doherty (IFA Grassroots)
• Michael Doherty (Peace and Reconciliation Group)
• Oliver Donnelly (Dunganon & South Tyrone Borough Council)
• Jessica Doran (INCORE)
• Brian Dougherty (St Columb’s Park House)
• Valerie Crozier-Nichol (Antrim Borough Council)
• Gary Dunne (Lincoln Court FC)
• Mark Dunseath (North of Ireland Motor Club)
• Ciara Ferguson (Greater Shantallow Area Partnership)
• Colette Fitzgerald (European Commission)

25. • Danny Gallagher (Sion Swifts FC)
• Eugene Gavin (St Mary’s Ardmore GAA)
• Wayne Glenn (Lincoln Court FC)
• Aidan Graham (Department for Social Development (NWDO))
• Aaron Hempton (Ardstraw FC)
• Derek Hussey (Councillor, Strabane District Council)
• Peter Hutton (Teenage Kicks)
• Claire Johnston (University of Ulster (Magee))
• Brenda Kelly (Sported NI)
• Sarah Keys (Irish Football Association)
• Allan Leonard (Northern Ireland Foundation)
• Conor Loughrey (Oxford United Stars FC)
• Emer Lyttle (Cooperation Ireland)
• Bridget McCaughan (Limavady Borough Council)
• Adele McCloskey (Comber House / John Mitchels GAA)
• Robbie McCluskey (Eglinton CC)
• Joanna McConway (DCAL)
• Michael McCusker (180 Degrees Training CIC)
• Laura McDermott (Ulster Hockey Union)
• Jack McFarland (Bonds Glen Cricket Club)
• Chris McGarrigle (WELB Youth Service)
• Ron McGowan (Sports Development - Derry City Council)
• Chloe McIlwrath (University of Central Lancashire)
• James McLeary (NEELB)
• Gordon McSparron (Londonderry YMCA RFC)
• Oliver Morgan (PCSP - Dungannon & South Tyrone)
• OllieMullan (Sports Development - Limavady Borough Council)
• Shauna Mullan (NEELB Youth Service)
• Fiona Nelson (Round Tower Youth)
• Chris Nicholl (WELB Youth Service)
• Martin O’Brien (Two Castles ABC)
• Darren O’Reilly (Rosemount FC)
• Darryl Petticrew (Ulster Rugby)
• Paul Roddy (Oxford United Stars FC)
• Kathryn Rough (Strabane District Council)
• Harry Rutherford (Bready Cricket Club)
• Rachel Telford (Ulster Sports Academy)
• Barry Tourish (Leisure Services Limavady Borough Council)
• Tommy Van Wyk (TVW Events)
• Emma Wheatley (INCORE)
• Ivan Wilson (PCSP - Dungannon & South Tyrone)
Conference Attendance List
91 Attendees
First Name Surname Organisation or Club
Michael McCusker 180 Degrees Training CIC
Valerie Crozier-Nicholl Antrim Borough Council
Nigel Boyd Ardstraw FC

26. Aaron Hempton Ardstraw FC
Jack McFarland Bonds Glen Cricket Club
Harry Rutherford Bready Cricket Club
Dalton Kehoe Brooke Park Forum
Martin Connolly C.R.J.
Adele McCloskey Comber House / John Mitchels GAA
Gemma Attwood Community Relations Council
Emer Lyttle Cooperation Ireland
Joanna McConway Department of Arts & Culture
Ivan Wilson Dungannon and South Tyrone Policing and
Community Safety Partnership
Oliver Donnelly Dunganon & South Tyrone Borough Council
Robbie McCluskey Eglinton CC
Ken Craig Eglinton Cricket Club
Alan McCague Foyle Hockey Club
Sean Curran Groundwork Northern Ireland
Joe Doherty IFA Grassroots
Alexander Cardenas INCORE - Unversity of Ulster
William Anderson Institute Football Club
Sarah Keys Irish Football Association
Christine McCloskey Job Development
James Colhoun Killyclooney Cricket Club
Barry Tourish Leisure Services Limavady Borough Council
Patricia Cameron Limavady Borough Council
Bridget McCaughan Limavady Borough Council
Andy Chapman Limavady Borough Council
Ollie Mullan Limavady District Council
Gary Dunne Lincoln Courts FC
Wayne Glenn Lincoln Courts FC
Peter Caldwell Londonderry YMCA
Gareth Lamrock Londonderry YMCA
Adrian Johnston Londonderry YMCA

27. Gordon McSparron Londonderry YMCA RFC
James McLeary NEELB
Shauna Mullan NEELB Youth Service
Justin McMinn NI Street League
Mark Dunseath North of Ireland Motor Club (NIMC)
Allan Leonard Northern Ireland Foundation
Lee Williamson OFMDFM
Paul Roddy Oxford United Stars FC
Conor Loughrey Oxford United Stars FC
Noel Crampsey Oxford United Stars FC
Sandra Armstrong PCSP - Omagh District Council
Michael Doherty Peace and Reconciliation Group
Ros Young PEACE III
Catherine Cooke PEACE III
Trevor Ringland Peace Players International
Jimmy Friel PSNI City West NPT
J McFarland PSNI City West NPT
Peter O'Brien Republic of Ireland Snooker
Gary McClean Respect - YMCA
Paul Anderson RESPECT YMCA
William Lamrock RESPECT YMCA
Gary McClean RESPECT YMCA
Darren O'Reilly Rosemount FC
Fiona Nelson Round Tower Youth
Lynn Clyde Round Tower Youth
Danny Gallagher Sion Swifts FC
Anthony Connolly Ski Ability NI
Margaret Connolly Ski Ability NI
Michael Cooke Sport NI
Brenda Kelly SPORTED NI
Ollie Mullan Sports Development Limavady Borough Council
Louise Allen Sports Development - Derry City Council

28. Ron McGowan Sports Development - Derry City Council
Michael Barr Sports Development Derry City Council
Ryan Deighan Sports Development Derry City Council
Chris Curran St Columb's Park House
Brian Dougherty St Columbs Park House
Eugene Gavin St Mary's Ardmore GAA
Kathryn Rough Strabane District Council
Cllr Derek Hussey Strabane District Council
Kenny McAdams Strategy Board
Tommy Van Wyk TVW Events
Martin O'Brien Two Castles ABC
Laura McDermott Ulster Hockey Union
Darryl Petticrew Ulster Rugby
Dr Rachael Telford Ulster Sports Academy
Chloe McIlwrath University of Central Lancashire
Jim Toland University of Ulster
Kyle Ferguson University of Ulster
Claire Johnston University of Ulster (Magee)
Stephen Bloomer University of Ulster (Magee)
Lisa Bradley University of Ulster- Magee
Ronnie McKeegan UUP
Tony Bradley Volunteer for University of Ulster
Sean Barr WELB
Chris McGarrigle WELB Youth Service
Julia Kee WNP Tullyally