Sean
HILLSBOROUGH
Not just a footballer
Faith Beyond the Pitch
I grew up in Sheffield, going to church as a child of two Zimbabwean parents. But between the ages of 12 and 18, I stopped going. I threw myself into football, and my faith went on the back burner.
When I was 18, I had to move out of my house for a while and went to live with relatives. They were very clear with me that if I was going to live with them, I needed to live like they did. At the time, I was going out clubbing and partying a lot, but their routine was very different - they prayed, read the Bible, and served in church. So I started to get involved in some of those things, while still living a bit of a double life.
But over time, things started to feel wrong. The stuff I was doing in clubs didn’t feel enjoyable anymore - it felt like habits I was stuck in.
So I began going back to church.
At first, I went with my cousins, but after a few weeks they went back to university and I had to decide whether I wanted to go for myself. I didn’t know anyone there. I would sit at the back and leave as soon as the service was over.
Around the same time, I was dealing with injuries - tears and hernias - that kept me out of football for most of a season. I had one surgery, went into rehab, and then found out I needed another surgery, which extended that time out even further.
I remember lying in bed feeling a lot of bitterness about being out of football for so long, and envy towards others who were getting opportunities while I was injured. In that moment, I felt like Jesus was asking me whether I was willing to give those things over to Him.
When I did, it felt like taking off a heavy rucksack. Everything felt lighter.
From that point on, something shifted in me. Then, during a time of worship at church one week, I experienced an overwhelming sense of peace and warmth that I had never felt before. I now know that I encountered the Holy Spirit.
I’ve always been someone who commits to things I see value in. At that point, I didn’t have much of a prayer life, but I did begin to develop a love for reading the Bible. I’m not naturally a reader - I didn’t really read anything before - but I started reading the Gospels, and I couldn’t get enough. I loved learning about Jesus and His teachings, and I began to feel conviction about areas of my life that didn’t line up with His way.
I made the decision to stop clubbing and partying. Learning about Jesus became massive for me, and I still have a real hunger for the Bible now. Even the books I read today are all about helping me grow in my faith.
Now, with Jesus in my life, my faith is my life.
I still play football, and it’s a blessing, but I’ll never accept being called “just a footballer” anymore. Outside of football, I see myself as a regular person - it’s just a job, and something I want to steward well.
Being injured taught me that football isn’t everything. There’s a much bigger purpose for my life beyond the game. At the same time, it’s made me more grateful for the career I have, because I know it can all stop at any point.
I’ve also come to see how important community is. I’m really invested in my church now - on my days off, you’ll often find me there, serving or spending time with others. Most of my friends are followers of Jesus, and that’s what keeps me going and fuels me - more than anything that comes with my career.
My faith is the foundation of who I am.
