Case Study: Pat McGarvey

Pat McGarvey, 36, was in Jericho House, a drug and alcohol treatment centre in Greenock on the outskirts of Glasgow, when he heard about Street League. He is now off drugs and his life is back on track...

Pat says, “I never had a life before I got involved with Street League, I just existed. I had played football as a child but hadn’t kicked a football for 18 years, and the chance to do it again was great and brought back some old memories. At the time I was just starting a drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme, and was having to deal with living life without drugs for the first time in 14 years."

Now off drugs and alcohol, Pat puts much of this down to his involvement with Street League which helped him improve health and fitness, meet new poeple develop improved communication and social skills, and most importantly, gain renewed confidence.

Pat played for Metro, a team managed by Street League's Brian Lennox, who put him forward to complete the Community Sports Leadership Award, and after this the Scottish FA Level 1 certificate.  He also had the chance to attend a sports coaching tour to Malta, "It was absolutely amazing and an experience I will never forget. Through this I am now doing voluntary work with Street League, and have been for the last nine months. I really enjoy it."

As well as helping our at Street League's events and training session he also recently helped the Glasgow team move office to their new base on West Regent Street near the City Centre. Brian Lennox says: "Pat spent hours helping us with the move, picking things up, doing bits and pieces of DIY. He was indispensable."

Pat concludes, "I am enjoying life for many reasons, the biggest being that I have been trying for months to get access to a personal track safety course, but kept hitting brick walls, until I asked for Street League's help and within a week I had my name reserved for a place on the course that is due to run in the next two months. After completing the course I will look to gain employment right away on the rail tracks."