Ambassadors

Rev John Boyers

Honorary Ambassador

“Way back in 1977, I entered the world of professional sport for the first time as a chaplain, at Watford Football Club. Now, over 40 years later, I’m still actively involved in similar work at Manchester United, which began in 1992. I now give 3 days a week to being available to all staff and players, offering pastoral and spiritual support to any who may need it, and when required, a religious perspective to the club generally. Between the fifteen years at ‘Vicarage Road’ and the present I spent twenty plus years of my ministry pioneering chaplaincy in sport establishing and leading SCORE, now SCUK. I’m delighted, not surprisingly, to have been asked to become a voluntary ‘Ambassador’ for the charity.

I believe from those 40 years as a sports chaplain that the availability of trained, experienced and pastorally gifted chaplains is a significant benefit to some players and staff members. The chaplain is a sensitive, available and always confidential safety-net: and sports clubs never know when that safety net may be needed. The chaplain doesn’t help all of the people all of the time, but for some of the people some of the time, the chaplain’s presence and availability is vitally important.

So I genuinely advocate for sports chaplaincy. I know that SCUK is experienced in identifying those suitable for chaplaincy; giving preliminary and providing further professional development training; and inducting and networking sports chaplains. This is a niche ministry. It is valued by administrators in many sports and sports clubs. SCUK offers years of cumulative and tested pastoral experience to the sports world.

Jamie Jones Buchanan MBE

A professional rugby league player for over 19 years, Jamie has represented England and Great Britain and has won six Super League championships, three World Club Challenges, three League Leaders’ Shields and one Challenge Cup Final with the club.

Paul Elliot CBE MBE

Paul Elliot CBE is a former English footballer who played as a defender. Starting his career with Charlton Athletic in the early 1980s, Elliott signed for First Division Luton Town in 1982.

Stuart Elliott

Former Northern Ireland International footballer, who played in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Duncan Green

Canon Duncan Green was the national Church of England Olympics Co-ordinator and is the LOCOG Head of Multi Faith Chaplaincy Services. He presided over 193 chaplains at the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Byron Haywood

Byron is a former Welsh international rugby union player who played at the highest level, and a successful professional rugby coach and currently the Wales Senior Rugby International Defence Coach.

Robbie Hunter Paul

A retired New Zealand International Rugby League player, author and TV pundit. Robbie won everything at club and world level.

Dr Allan Johnston

English Institute of Sport Mental Health Expert Panel; Consultant Performance Psychiatrist League Managers Association, Deputy Chair RCPsych Sports & Exercise Psychiatry SIG, Sports Psychiatrist with The Spire Leeds Hospital, Trustee of State of Mind Sports Charity, Consultant Psychiatrist to Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

James Lusted

James Lusted is an actor who became a local councillor in May 2017. He has worked as both an actor and a TV presenter for 10 years.His theatre work includes Follow Me for Theatre Brycheiniog and The Funfair at HOME theatre in Manchester. In television, James recently appeared as a Nurse on the BBC’s 4 O’clock Club and in various documentaries including, Myself, Born Small and Big Love. He can currently be seen as a guest presenter on BBC1’s Songs of Praise. James lives in North Wales with his wife Chloe and baby daughter Olivia and is a committed Christian and is part of the Festival Church Chester Team as a the Next Generation Pastor. He is delighted to have been appointed as Sports Chaplaincy UK Ambassador.

Phil Manchester

Ambassador

Phil was the former chair of trustees and whilst stepping down from that role is delighted to have become an Ambassador for us (SCUK). Although a one time tournament chaplain to the Fijian Police Rugby League team, Phil’s first love is Rugby Union which he has played, watched and blogged about. An avid supporter of grass roots sport, he has been involved in schools and youth sport as an athletics coach. He was involved in setting up the athletics arm of a regional, youth sport and community charity and in training coaches. Phil currently encourages the players and families involved in his local rugby club. He is also a trustee of a large faith based charity.

Mitch

At 19 years of age, Mitch put his trust in Jesus and soon after began sharing his new found faith with others. He went on to work as a fitness instructor and served 16 years as a Firefighter before leaving in 2011 to focus on evangelism in Ireland. He is co-founder of Crown Jesus Ministries, author of Snatched from the Fire (IVP) and Director of Compassion Ireland. He holds a MA in Applied Theology and studies Apologetics.

Mitch is married to Amanda and together they have two children one dog and a chicken. Outside of his passions for Evangelism, church planting and leadership; Mitch has a love for curries, coffee and Chelsea FC, we won’t hold that against him.

Fabrice Muamba

A retired professional footballer who played for Arsenal, Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers as a central midfielder.

Brian Noble MBE

TV pundit and International Rugby League Coach having won everything domestically and globally at club level.

Andrew Reed OBE

Andrew Reed OBE was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the key marginal Constituency of Loughborough from 1997 to 2010. Reed was awarded the OBE in June 2012 for service to the community and sport in Leicestershire

Lee Payne

A former professional football having played for Newcastle Utd, Reading FC, Veendam (Holland), FC Emmen (Holland). A qualified FA licenced coach and having served 20 years as a football agent and is currently a Senior Consultant at 10Tentalent. Lee speaks English, Dutch and Portuguese.

Linvoy Primus MBE

Linvoy, a former professional footballer has had over 20yrs experience with Chaplaincy. He is married with 3 Children and worships at Portsmouth Family Church.

Linvoy is a joint founder of Faith and Football Christian charity, which provides a range of community, educational and overseas programmes using football as a platform for relationship-building and mobilising the Church to meet and serve people where they are on life’s journey, and taking Jesus’ message of hope and love to all.

Anne Wafula Strike MBE

Former Paralympian and Gold medallist and an advocate for charity work with disability charities.

John Williams

John does a dual role on behalf of The Message Trust, one being the North West Operations & Development Manager for the North West hub, in which he ensures the smooth running and exploring and helping to implement mission and partnership across the region. He is secondly the Head of Enable, a ministry that is all about equipping, empowering people to understand disabilities. He is drawing on his wealth of experience in church ministry and his journey of living with cerebral palsy. Born eight weeks premature and diagnosed with a severe muscular disability, it was assumed John would never be able to walk, talk, or be independent. By the grace and power of God, John is now able to inspire and encourage those facing their own difficulties. John is passionate about seeing people connect with the good news of Jesus, and is especially committed to ensuring that those with seen or unseen disabilities have opportunities to respond to the gospel, connect with and serve the local church and be released into the fullness of life that God has for them.

Nick Williams

“We all crave that shoulder to lean on. The support from our chaplains Martin and Heather has been absolutely amazing encouraging me and my family all the way. I wholeheartedly recommend any sports club having a chaplain and for players, coaches etc to reach out and use them. I am delighted to become an Ambassador for Sports Chaplaincy UK”