Ex-Ipswich-Town player runs Christian coaching charity

Derek Jefferson was known as one of Ipswich Town ’s “hard men” of football in his days at

 

Bobby wanted him stay with Town, but he decided to leave and went on to play for Wolves and as player/coach for Hereford . Life was good, but while he was at Wolves he lost his two-year-old daughter Victoria and decided at this point that there could not be a loving God. He tried to fill his emptiness by drinking heavily and living an excessive lifestyle. 

Derek goes on to say, “It was while visiting my parents in Middlesbrough, just after my marriage broke down, that I attended a Church service that was to change my life. During the service a young man explained how God had changed his life. He talked about Jesus as a real person and of the forgiveness of God that he had experienced. I found myself crying. I wanted what he had. I needed a new start. I had never really had any peace in my life and that night I found a peace I had not known before. It has stayed with me ever since."

"My footballing career had come to an end and having qualified as a football coach I was appointed Reserve Team Manager at Birmingham City under Jim Smith. My life took on a new dimension. I was involved in football at the highest level but had a sense of peace and purpose I had never had before”.

 Derek remarried and after 5 years at Birmingham City decided to give up football and devote more time to his family and the local church. He became a pharmaceutical representative and ended up working for Glaxo as a successful salesman.

 Then around about 10 years ago he felt God wanted him to use his football skills to help reach young people with the Christian message. He talked it over with his minister and that summer Sports Pursuits was born. Derek saw a need to coach children who loved football and wanted to increase their skills.

 He wanted to “put something back into the game” and pass on what he had learnt to youngsters, but with an added dimension! Through his own faith experiences he became convinced that coaching youngsters the right way in football, based on Christian principles, could help with life skills including self-discipline, self-esteem, sportsmanship and team spirit. It would also help to bridge the gap between church and community as well as encouraging the development of traditional personal and social values applicable to everyday life.

 Sports Pursuits is now a busy charity, based in Solihull, West Midlands, working with community groups, including churches and schools, to get alongside young people and to give them a ‘sporting chance’ in this competitive world.

 Derek Says, “I firmly believe that if God asks you to give something up he replaces it with something better. I gave up football but now help youngsters to enjoy sport and improve their skills. I also show them how being a Christian can help them to enjoy it even more."

 You can find out more about Derek and Sports Pursuits at www.sportspursuits.org. He has also just kicked off a fundraising campaign through www.justgiving.com/derekjefferson