Players Raise €25,000 for fellow Pro's

In times of greatest stress, we discover the greatest depths of character within. Football as a sport is one where the divide between the highest levels and those at the lowest are the most visible but an initiative driven by former Arsenal and Republic of Ireland player Graham Barrett has helped to bring the two ends together.

As an agent, he has spoken to a number of his clients that have a connection to the SSE Airtricity League and they have pledged an initial €25,000 to help out colleagues that will suffer financially from a shut down of the game here.

James McClean, Enda Stevens and Kevin Long are among the players to have chipped in and the money pledged will now be administered by the National League Executive Committee and the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland.

It’s a ray of light at a very dark time for players amid a much wider time of hardship and anxiety. It is great though in terms of a single community, united by a concern for each other, coming together to make a difference.

“Over the past few days, I have been in conversation with a number of my clients from Integrity Sports about how they and I would like to help people,” said Barrett said in a statement issued yesterday.

“The challenge for us was trying to identify where best to begin because right now, there are so many deserving cases and so many people in need.”

“Together, we have decided to offer what little help we can to an industry very close to our hearts, the health and welfare of the people within the League of Ireland. The league is where most of Integrity Sport’s international clients like James McClean, Enda Stevens, Kevin Long, Gavin Bazunu and others began their careers and their opportunities were born here.”

“Others like Jack Byrne and Graham Burke credit the League of Ireland clubs and the people they have dealt with in the league as the reason they have now also become senior internationals.”

“As of today, we have raised €25,000. This money will be put towards an Emergency Fund to be used by Noel (Byrne, Shamrock Rovers’ official and chair of the National League Executive Committee) and the NLEC in conjunction with Stephen McGuinness and Ollie Cahill of the PFAI, to aid players who will undoubtedly need assistance in the coming weeks.”

“We know that this money is not a solution in itself and we have made the gesture because we have all benefited from being involved with the League of Ireland and recognise that the league’s survival is imperative to the continued progression of football within this country.”