FOOTBALL: PFANI can be an 'arm of support' for footballers here
The new body has been set up by former Linfield, Crusaders and Dungannon forward Michael Carvill
A new Professional Footballers' Association in Northern Ireland set up to help players here has vowed to be the 'quiet voice' of support for anyone involved in the game.
The PFANI has been created by former Linfield, Crusaders and Dungannon Swifts forward Michael Carvill and it will be the first time a body to represent the welfare of players has been made official in Northern Ireland.
"We've never brought a players' body to the table before. We haven't sat with league representatives and share our opinions and our voice. I think it's something that's needed. If we add some benefit to the local game, I think it's a massive benefit to everyone," says Carvill, now the manager of Kilmore Rec.
"Most players are working part-time, so what we're trying to do is make sure they are covered - whether it's anything to do welfare. mental health, education and employability and just fighting for their rights.
"We're always going to be there for the day-to-day stuff - but we always want to be there when it's gets very difficult. When a player is in need of help, we'd like to think we'd be in a position to help them.
"We're not naive and we know they way that football works in this country. We're not saying we're going to try and make drastic changes. We're the quiet voice that supports players in the background," adds Carvill, who also played for Welsh side Wrexham and Northern Ireland Under-21s.
"It's a cut-throat business and that's not going to change. If you're not performing, you're out the door, but we want to believe if that does happen, we can support them and help players get back on track.
Carvill says the body has been over two years in the making and they aim to host a full Annual General Meeting this year to elect officers and fully launch.
The 33-year-old - who also works as a Volunteer Development and Policy Officer with the Irish Football Association - wanted to ensure the PFANI was built on solid ground from the off.
"We want the PFANI to be there long into the future. We have to make sure it's set up properly. It's like anything else - it's all about foundations. It's like building a house; if the foundations aren't built properly, it will fall.
"You won't know you'll need us until it's too late. Since it's been set up, the amount of players who have contacted me privately and asked for support and advice has been incredible,@ says Carvill, who has urged footballers - both male and female - at any level in Northern Ireland to get in touch.
"When it's a collective opinion, that's when people take you more seriously. Most importantly, it's about getting together to make change and if players want change, they want support and they want help, that collective power is so important."
The lack of an official player welfare group was brought into stark reality in 2019 with the sudden death of Carrick Rangers defender Jerry Thompson.
A number of high-profile footballers subsequently came out and spoke about their own mental health issues and while the wheels had already been turning in terms of setting up the PFANI, the tragic passing of the former Larne and Portadown man only served to further highlight the need.
"The big thing for me is that the players feel comfortable to speak out about player welfare and mental health issues. That's our number one message - speak out, get help, get support and come to us with anything. We will do everything in our power to help and support you," urges Carvill, who says he wished there had been support mechanisms in place back in 2019.
"One life is too many. We have to make sure that we are ready to put ourselves out there and really throw out that arm of support for anyone struggling .
"When that happened, it shook the whole football community and it shook the wider community too. It was a really difficult time for players and I think they realised and identified how fragile life is for many, especially for a young man like Jerry," he admits.
"Would a PFA have helped? We'll never know. One thing's for sure, we definitely would have been there and been an option for somebody with difficult circumstances to make that call and reach out. We could potentially then have reached out and tried to intervene and tried to help.
"One life is too many. We have to make sure that we are ready to put ourselves out there and really throw out that arm of support for anyone struggling .
"The Jerry Thompson thing was a big eye-opener for local communities. They would have thought: Jerry Thompson - Irish League footballer, playing at the top level in the country. He must be happy or everything is okay with him, he's got it easy, he's got it good. I think it sends a message out to everybody that your life is far more important than football.
"We never speak out and ask somebody, 'how are you really?' All we care about is your place on a Saturday. It's a really competitive environment and if you show weakness in that environment then you're deemed not up for it or not ready for the fight.
"People put on masks, so it's very important that we help to remove those masks and try and support those people. Football is always going to be competitive and it's always going to be intense, but the most important thing is that they know there' support there. It's better to be in the right frame of mind and enjoying your football because your life is far more important."
To register your interest in the Professional Footballers' Association Northern Ireland, visit www.PFANI.com