The staff at the Irish FA are no different, and each month www.irishfa.com will be speaking to a current member of staff within the Football Development Department to assess their volunteering background and interests, and also their current volunteering roles within Northern Ireland football.
This month the staff/volunteer spotlight shines on Brendan Lynch (Irish FA South Belfast Primary School Coach) who knows from his own experience, the value and journey of a hard working volunteer.
How did you get involved within football as a volunteer?
I have always been mad about football from an early age. I played for my local team and went to watch Irish League football while in Primary School. From the age of 16 I used to be very interested in coaching football and I volunteered helping out a company called FL Soccer. This experience was just working on their summer camps helping the other coaches set up sessions and little bits and pieces. It was through this work that I knew I wanted to continue coaching.
It was then a few years later that I started volunteering at Cliftonville mini soccer centres through Kyle Spiers (GDO). Here I got a lot of experience working with young children in the community, helping them to learn the fundamentals of football.
What made you want to volunteer?
Well firstly I loved the game and had played football throughout my life for my local team and knew that I wanted to stay involved in football for as many years as I could. I knew I wasn’t the best player on teams but I was good at organising people and helping them understand instructions. For these reasons I wanted to volunteer within the game and stay involved.
How did volunteering help you on a personal and professional level?
Volunteering has helped form the person I am today. When I was younger I was very shy and the thought of standing up in front of a group of people I don’t know to shout out instructions and coach sessions would have been totally alien to me, even though I wanted to be a coach. Coaching has helped me to become a more confident person not just while coaching but also within everything I do in life. It is also through volunteering that I have met many new friends and engaged with so many communities that I probably would not have otherwise.
On a professional level it has totally shaped my career path. I love football and the fact I work in this environment every day is directly due to the volunteering background I was involved in.
What have you learned from volunteering?
I could probably bore people with the amount I believe that I have learned through volunteering so I’ll keep it short. Some of the key learning aspects for me has been:
- The benefits of challenging myself and not shying away from tasks that may be outside my comfort zone.
- Working with young people to achieve something is very rewarding.
- My actions can positively impact the lives of young people and help to shape a better society.
What’s your best volunteer memory?
My best volunteer memory would be remembering working with young players as a volunteer coach in the Mini Soccer Centre and now watching one or two of them (all these years later) make their debut in the senior Irish League. It’s nice to think that your time has helped to keep them involved within the game and maybe contributed to their progression to senior level.
Would you recommend volunteering?
Absolutely and I always do when I speak to anyone who asks me about it. I always tell them to go and volunteer because they can learn so much and meet new people from even the simplest of roles. It will enhance your C.V and you never know what opportunities may arise from it. It also feels great to help others develop and get better.
In one sentence, why should people volunteer within Northern Ireland football?
Because they can make a difference in someone’s life.
Do you still volunteer?
I still volunteer as often as I can. My time is often taken up with my job and working with the Cliftonville Olympic team. As often as possible I will help out with the younger teams within the Club and take some of their training sessions.
To find out more about volunteering contact Stephen Garrett, Irish FA Volunteer Development and Policy Officer: sgarrett@irishfa.com or 07545930124,
