Easter – massively necessary for all Christians – can also be a difficult time for football teams within the English Premier League and their fans around the globe.
That means it is a busy period for the chaplains working inside Premier League and other clubs because the season draws towards its climax.
In the weeks ahead, the Premier League Championship will likely be decided, European places achieved – and the battle for relegation fought out.
Currently 11 Premier League clubs and 55 Football League clubs have chaplains, with some clubs having a couple of. There are also chaplains throughout the National League and in lower league clubs. The growth in women’s football has led to more chaplains being appointed to serve women’s teams.
Matt Baker is National Director for England overseeing all of English Sport for Sports Chaplaincy UK. He combines the role with being chaplain at League One side Charlton Athletic, a position he has held since March 2000.
He explains: “The role of the chaplain is to be pastorally proactive and spiritually reactive. This means being commonly present, listening and supporting people whether or not they have a faith or not. That could possibly be chatting to a player with a long-term injury within the physio room or supporting a member of staff through a bereavement.
“From a spiritual perspective an example of this was when a player asked me 15 years ago whether I might pray with him before a game. On the primary occasion there have been a few players and we prayed together before every game for the remainder of that season.
“This has continued ever since as there at all times appear to be Christian players within the squad and so pre-match prayers before a house game have change into a component of the regular routine for those wanting it. When we now have had players of other faiths a room has also been made available for prayers for them as well.”
Matt loves his role. He tells me: “I’m a people person so I really like being around staff and players, attending to know them, listening and helping to support wherever I can. It’s an amazing privilege to be a chaplain at a football club and I never take that evenly.
“Whenever someone opens up and appreciates my support it emphasises how beneficial the role is. Also, as more players of religion have come into the sport in recent times it has been a joy to be involved in a roundabout way in discipling these young men during their time on the club.”
The chaplain’s role goes beyond the team on the pitch. Matt explains: “The chaplain is there for everybody but that very much relies on how the club see the role.
“Ideally it’s everyone from the star striker and the Chairman to the backroom staff and people on the stadium. There may even be some involvement with fans, for instance taking funeral services or the scattering of ashes of fans.”
Was it tougher to be a chaplain at a successful club, chasing a championship title or promotion, or one fighting relegation? Matt responds thoughtfully: “I feel in some senses it’s tougher in a successful one.
“When a club is struggling, either on or off the sphere, they often then really value the support of a chaplain. I do know from my very own experience the role was much appreciated after I was capable of get alongside staff going through redundancy after relegation.
“In a successful club, particularly where there may be more cash available, the chaplain’s role is usually squeezed, and the club will outsource support or employ more staff in support roles. This is a shame because there really isn’t any substitute for an independent, trusted chaplain in an embedded relationship inside the club.”
Many churches have local football and other sporting clubs on their doorsteps and should want to see if a chaplaincy may be possible. What would Matt’s advice be to Christians wanting to make the connection?
He tells me, “Get in contact with us at Sports Chaplaincy UK. Depending on a person’s location and sport we are able to advise on any vacancies we’re aware of, guide them through any openings and offer the relevant sports chaplaincy training and support.”
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, and a former communications director with the CofE. He writes widely about faith and football.
