Football for all... but not if you're an evangelical Christian says former Irish league player and coach

It is one of a slowly increasing number of games to be played on the Sabbath day, and the 53-year-old is concerned that the Irish FA is not giving the same consideration to evangelical Christians as it does to other groups.

He said: “There are Christians with many differing views on Sunday football, but the heart of the issue is that there are evangelical Christians at every level of football in Northern Ireland who hold the traditional Biblical view that Sunday is the Lord’s day and that the fourth commandment is as relevant as all the rest of the commandments.

"As a Christian I believe the Bible is relevant today. It’s not some old, dusty book. I don’t believe I’m a dinosaur because I believe in the Bible.

“I’ve respect for a lot of people in the IFA and NIFL, I understand they’re trying to do what they think is best, I just think they’re wrong in the trajectory of more and more football on a Sunday because it’s putting evangelical Christians in the game in a very difficult position. The outcome will be that some will refuse to play.

"Why go down this route when we don’t have to and drive good, young players, coaches, managers out of the game over their religious convictions which they are entitled to hold?

"Why should one section of the footballing community be disenfranchised and essentially pushed out?”

David, who lives in Donaghcloney, said it is a testament to the “Biblical influence” Northern Ireland has had for many years, that Sunday football has been resisted for so long.

He said: “The reality is for us Christians, we have to accept that Northern Ireland is no longer a Christian society, it’s now a secular society.

“But we’re citizens of this country as well, we pay our taxes, we’ve every right to our religious convictions that the Bible teaches us that Sunday is special.

“For me, what I think is a relevant argument is – do the rights and the religious convictions of evangelical Christians not count? The IFA have a ‘Football For All’ campaign, but it seems like ‘Football For All… unless you’re an evangelical Christian’.

"Just because things have changed in society and there’s more and more sport on a Sunday, that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing."

David, who is the son of a missionary and went on to become a pastor, said: “I know people from every Protestant denomination you can think of that aren’t happy with the track the Irish League is going down.”

He spoke of Loughgall’s Luke Cartwright and Linfield Ladies and NI player Keri Halliday, who have told him they won’t take part in Sunday football. Keri has already refused to play in a recent Sunday fixture.

David said: “How unfortunate is it that in an era of equality and inclusivity, young players are asked to go against their faith?

“My fears are that people like Keri and Luke will turn their backs on a career in the Irish League over this increase in games on a Sunday.

"What I’ll often say to people is look at the players and managers who would have been lost to the game if football was played on a Sunday. Alfie Stewart and Glenn Dunlop are two Irish League greats – they wouldn’t have played on a Sunday and Roy Walker would never have managed on a Sunday.”

Asked what a typical Sunday was like for him, David said: “In the morning I’d usually go for a walk with the dog, I might listen to a Christian debate or a sermon, I teach Bible class every other week so I’ll prepare for that. Church in the morning, church in the evening, and in between Sunday lunch with the family – the best meal of the week.

"The overriding principle is it’s the Lord’s Day and it’s about trying to focus on Him. Because I’m consumed with football six days a week for me personally I don’t want to think about it on a Sunday. I’m happy to wait to Monday morning to catch up.”

The Irish FA has not responded other than to say the announcement that the final would be moved to Sunday, May 6 so as not to clash with the King’s Coronation was made in December.