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| Middlesbrough's homeless sought by football club | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| For Emma Briggs playing football gives her a reason to get out of bed in the morning. | For Emma Briggs playing football gives her a reason to get out of bed in the morning. |
| She was made homeless before Christmas and spent several months sleeping on the streets. | She was made homeless before Christmas and spent several months sleeping on the streets. |
| Now she is involved in a scheme set up by a charity in Middlesbrough to help keep homeless young people off the streets. | Now she is involved in a scheme set up by a charity in Middlesbrough to help keep homeless young people off the streets. |
| An idea first developed in Liverpool in 2007, Middlesbrough Homeless Football Club has been set up to give those without a home something to "look forward to" and is the first of its kind in the north-east of England. | An idea first developed in Liverpool in 2007, Middlesbrough Homeless Football Club has been set up to give those without a home something to "look forward to" and is the first of its kind in the north-east of England. |
| Miss Briggs said: "I was going through a bad time in my life and I got in with the wrong people. I was just not getting on with my family and I just had to leave. | Miss Briggs said: "I was going through a bad time in my life and I got in with the wrong people. I was just not getting on with my family and I just had to leave. |
| "It was horrible, absolutely horrible, it was like a deep hole you couldn't get out of." | "It was horrible, absolutely horrible, it was like a deep hole you couldn't get out of." |
| Miss Briggs used to play in a football team when she was younger and said the club is something in life she enjoys. | Miss Briggs used to play in a football team when she was younger and said the club is something in life she enjoys. |
| "Having something to look forward to is really important, it gives you something to get out of bed for in the morning," she said. | "Having something to look forward to is really important, it gives you something to get out of bed for in the morning," she said. |
| "It's also nice to have someone to talk to and it's a bit of fun - you just need to get out now and again." | "It's also nice to have someone to talk to and it's a bit of fun - you just need to get out now and again." |
| Former Middlesbrough FC striker Bernie Slaven is helping the players brush up their skills. | Former Middlesbrough FC striker Bernie Slaven is helping the players brush up their skills. |
| He said: "It is terrific. It has always been something I've wanted to get involved in with the homeless and I'm privileged to be a part of it. | He said: "It is terrific. It has always been something I've wanted to get involved in with the homeless and I'm privileged to be a part of it. |
| "I think it's absolutely disgraceful that people born and bred in Britain are homeless in 2013, I think it's so, so sad. | "I think it's absolutely disgraceful that people born and bred in Britain are homeless in 2013, I think it's so, so sad. |
| "But there's some great kids: it's not all doom and gloom." | "But there's some great kids: it's not all doom and gloom." |
| 'Anger and tension' | 'Anger and tension' |
| Middlesbrough Homeless Football Club has been set up by charity Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, which is helping initial funding of the club, and Peter Kenny who set up a homeless club in Liverpool. | Middlesbrough Homeless Football Club has been set up by charity Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, which is helping initial funding of the club, and Peter Kenny who set up a homeless club in Liverpool. |
| Foundation chairman Andy Preston said homelessness was a "big problem" in the area. | Foundation chairman Andy Preston said homelessness was a "big problem" in the area. |
| He said: "I am really proud and very pleased that this is the first occurrence of a proper homeless club in the North East. | He said: "I am really proud and very pleased that this is the first occurrence of a proper homeless club in the North East. |
| "This isn't going to cure homelessness, it's a very complex issue with very complex drivers, but what it will do is introduce a lot of people to football and fitness and help promote confidence, teamwork and help communication skills." | "This isn't going to cure homelessness, it's a very complex issue with very complex drivers, but what it will do is introduce a lot of people to football and fitness and help promote confidence, teamwork and help communication skills." |
| It is also hoped the club will prevent people from drinking and using drugs on the street and help them find employment. | It is also hoped the club will prevent people from drinking and using drugs on the street and help them find employment. |
| Hostels across Teesside will play against each other once a month, with the best players chosen for Middlesbrough Homeless Football Club to play against other teams in the country. | Hostels across Teesside will play against each other once a month, with the best players chosen for Middlesbrough Homeless Football Club to play against other teams in the country. |
| The club is currently looking for a sponsor and help with a football kit. | The club is currently looking for a sponsor and help with a football kit. |
| James Dedrick, 18, who was living on the streets of Middlesbrough, said: "What I have noticed from my life is sport releases a lot of anger and tension which a lot of teenagers struggle with. | James Dedrick, 18, who was living on the streets of Middlesbrough, said: "What I have noticed from my life is sport releases a lot of anger and tension which a lot of teenagers struggle with. |
| "I know sport is stressful, but it also relaxes you in a way because it takes your mind off everything. | "I know sport is stressful, but it also relaxes you in a way because it takes your mind off everything. |
| "I've made mistakes and this is helping me through it. " | "I've made mistakes and this is helping me through it. " |