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The Northern Ireland team is initially preparing to make history.
Northern Ireland's transplant football team is set to make history as they prepare to compete at the first transplant football World Cup held in Italy next week.
The seven tournaments, which will be held in Serbia, Italy from 8th to 14th September 2024, are modelled at the FIFA World Cup and convey a unique and powerful message.
The Northern Ireland team, consisting of 16 players who have undergone heart, liver, kidney and bone marrow transplants, competes with teams from all over the world, including Italy, Australia, Chile and Spain, in a highly competitive group stage of the competition.
Former Irish FA Football Development Director and UEFA A Licensed Coach Michael Boyd has been coaching and has spent the last 12 months of training for this historic tournament.
Michael Boyd has been committed to shaping the team's tactical approach, fostering a strong team spirit, and ensuring that they are well prepared to compete on the international stage.
Northern Ireland's transplant football team receives significant financial support for historic trips from Northern Ireland's transplant sports, kidney care, RVH liver support groups, and in-kind support from the Irish FA, Rosalioffotball Club, and the Public Health Agency (PHA) Northern Ireland.
Orla Smyth, 45, from Belfast, is the team's co-manager and player and one of the key figures driving the team.
She received a kidney transplant in 2007 and is currently chairing Transplant Sports Northern Ireland, a charity dedicated to encouraging transplant recipients to embrace sports.
Orla Smyth said: “For me, going back to sports was a tipping point after my transplant, and it gave me my life back.
“The Ported Football World Cup isn't just about soccer. It's about celebrating life and we owe it all to donors,” Orla added.
Participating in the Northern Ireland transplant football team in the tournament is not only an astonishing achievement, but also an opportunity to highlight the importance of organ donation.
By competing at the highest level, players want to encourage more people to consider donating organs and help save lives.
David Gourley, Newtownabbey's team captainI had a kidney transplant five years ago. He was playing football when symptoms of kidney failure began to appear, and his journey to recovery had a deep impact on his life.
“I didn't expect to play football again, let alone represent Northern Ireland on the international stage,” Gourley said.
“When I was diagnosed with kidney failure, it was a shock, but even after receiving a call saying that a donor was found, everything changed for me and my family.
“This World Cup is more than just competition. It's an opportunity to show the world the importance of organ donation.”
“Every game we play is a homage to those who have given us the gift of life. I want people to know how good they can get from organ donation. It saves life, just like it saved mine.”
For more information about Northern Ireland's transplant football teams and how to support organ donation, see below.
Transplant Sports Northern Ireland Facebook Page.
Northern Ireland's transplanted football team
Player:
Kevin Bell – Kidneys; Cecil Floyd – Liver; David Gourley – Kidneys; Conor McHugh – Kidneys; Mark Hughes – Kidneys; Justin Ballmer – Kidneys; Conor Patton – Kidneys; Graham McCormick – Kidneys; David Scott – Bone Marrow. Graham Kenney – Heart; Dylan Caughey – Liver; Grant Devlin – Kidneys; Gregory Walsh – Heart; Orla Smyth – Kidneys; Stephen Maguire – Kidneys; Seamus Coyle – Kidneys.
Coaching staff:
Michael Boyd – Head Coach & Joint Manager. Damien Fogarty – Team Doctor, Arleen Campbell – Judge & Living Donor.
