Professional Practice and Pastoral Care: A Critical Analysis of the Manchester United Schoolboy Scholarship 2007 – 2012 Item Type Thesis or dissertation Authors Whelan, Anthony M. Citation Whelan, A. M. (2014). Professional Practice and Pastoral Care: A Critical Analysis of the Manchester United Schoolboy Scholarship 2007 – 2012 (Doctoral dissertation). University of Chester, United Kingdom. Publisher University of Chester Rights Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Download date 02/10/2021 23:26:48 Item License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10034/623234 Professional Practice and Pastoral Care: A Critical Analysis of the Manchester United Schoolboy Scholarship 2007 – 2012 Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Chester for the degree of Doctor of Professional Studies in Practical Theology By Anthony Michael Whelan December 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Practical theology was completely new to me when I commenced the Professional Doctorate in October 2008. In order to meet the various challenges of the course, I have relied on a considerable help, support and encouragement of a variety of admirable people. From the moment I walked into her office, Professor Elaine Graham placed a great deal of faith and confidence in my ability to succeed on the course. Therefore, I will always be indebted to her for accepting me as a novice student. If I have justified her trust in me, I will be deeply humbled. I am immensely grateful to my principal supervisor Professor Chris Baker for his superb patience, guidance, advice and wise counsel. The journey we have undertaken together has taken me to places personally, professionally and intellectually that I did not think possible for someone with my limited knowledge of religion and theology. Other members of the course team also deserve much credit for their various moments of insight and inspiration at each stage of the process. So a huge thanks to Dr Steve Knowles, Dr Dawn Llewellyn and Dr Wayne Morris. Thanks also to Cath Rogers in the Theology and Religious Studies office for her kind assistance with the myriad administrative matters which I encountered during my studies. I have been profoundly privileged and blessed to have joined a very special student cohort who, often unwittingly, have had a major influence on my theological and professional development. Therefore, heartfelt thanks are accorded to Desmond Betts, Gary O’Neil, Alistair Prince, Katja Stuerzenhofecker, Steve Tranter, and Dr Andy Wier. Brian McClair at Manchester United deserves praise for the generous support he has given me from the outset of my studies. All the participants of the research: players, coaches, parents, house-parents and teachers, are to be commended for their honesty and integrity throughout the interview process. They have my sincere gratitude for agreeing to participate. Thanks also to Marie Beckley in the Academy office, for her valuable assistance to format and prepare my assignments for submission over several years. Phil Vasili unhesitatingly agreed to proof read my manuscript and I thank him for his friendship, and diligence. My wife, Patricia has shared the demands of this research with me, and it would not have been completed without her forbearance, understanding, unremitting love and care. Finally, this thesis is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Mavis (1928-1991). She would have been exceedingly proud that her son has completed a project of this nature. 2 CONTENTS ABSTRACT 6 SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIO 7 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 8 The Research Rationale 8 Schools Football 9 The Youth Football Industry 10 Academies at Professional Football Clubs 12 The Schoolboy Scholarship 13 Interdisciplinary Perspectives 18 The Researching Professional 23 The Thesis Structure 26 CHAPTER TWO: GATHERING THE GOLD-DUST: 29 METHODOLOGY Introduction 29 Oral History 29 The Value of Oral History for Football Research 30 Ethical Protocols 32 The Research Process 36 The Interview Process 38 The Utility of Thematic Analysis 41 Conclusion 45 3 CHAPTER THREE: NARRATIVES OF THE SCHOOLBOY 47 SCHOLARSHIP: LIFE AT THE FOOTBALL CLUB Introduction 47 Leaving Home 48 Biblical Motif: Sacrifice 53 Talent Development 53 The Academy Syllabus 57 Spontaneous Play 57 A Coach and Player Perspective 59 Biblical Motif: Lessons from the Gospel of Mark 62 Life Skills: A Definition 63 Biblical Motif: Old Testament Examples of Life Skills 64 Life Skills: A Player, Parent and Teacher Perspective 65 Conclusion 68 CHAPTER FOUR: NARRATIVES OF THE SCHOOLBOY 70 SCHOLARSHIP: ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND MORAL EDUCATION Introduction 70 Integration into School Life 72 Academic Life 76 The Mentoring Process 80 Biblical Motif: Mentoring in the Old and New Testament 81 The Value of Mentoring 82 Biblical Motif: Holistic Well-being 85 Holistic Well-being: A Professional Viewpoint 87 Conclusion 92 4 CHAPTER FIVE: NARRATIVES OF THE SCHOOLBOY 94 SCHOLARSHIP: LIFE IN FAMILY ACCOMMODATION Introduction 94 Hospitality: History, Literature and Religious Tradition 95 Hospitality: A Biblical Motif 97 Hospitality: The Players View 99 Hospitality: The House-Parents View 101 Conclusion 107 CHAPTER SIX: THE SOCCER COACH AS PRACTICAL 109 THEOLOGIAN Introduction 109 Practical Theology and Player Development 110 Liberation Theology 116 Child Welfare Legislation and the Importance of Spirituality in Player 119 Development Pastoral Care 123 Conclusion 126 CHAPTER SEVEN: CONCLUSION 128 Justification of the Research Method 128 Synopsis of the Research Findings 130 Professional Development and Contribution to Practical Theology 133 Recommendations for Further Research 134 APPENDIX ONE: SCHOOLBOY SCHOLARS TIMETABLE 137 APPENDIX TWO: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 139 APPENDIX THREE: GCSE RESULTS 143 BIBLIOGRAPHY 147 5 Professional Practice and Pastoral Care: A Critical Analysis of the Manchester United Schoolboy Scholarship 2007 – 2012 Anthony Michael Whelan ABSTRACT The Manchester United Schoolboy Scholarship is a comprehensive football and education programme allied with residential provision. Education takes place at a local High School, and the boys are accommodated with families who are carefully selected by the Club. Thus, talented young players between the age of 12 and 16 receive fulltime coaching and education in preparation for a career in professional football. The research will critically evaluate and assess a football programme for gifted young footballers with a view to constructing an holistic model of player welfare which seeks to address their sporting (football), educational, physical, psychological emotional and spiritual needs. This research will also explore the relevant theological, social and child rights issues relating to this sphere of professional practice. Oral data was assembled by conducting a series of semi-structured interviews with key personnel involved in the scholarship: players, coaches, teachers, parents and house-parents. The transcripts were then evaluated using the qualitative technique of thematic analysis from which five major themes emerged: leaving home, holistic development, life skills, mentoring and pastoral care. Thus the primary issues the thesis is concerned to explore unfold. This includes the sensitive nature of ‘inside’ research at a professional football club. The research discloses evidence of ‘best practice’ and the subtle management of the players’ physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs. In short, the boys’ progress at football was not to the detriment of their holistic development as human beings. However, the data also shows that the collaboration between the coaching and school staff could be further developed and improved for the mutual benefit of both parties. Another important outcome of the research has been my personal and professional development as a reflective practitioner. The multi-disciplinary approach to this investigation has undoubtedly enhanced my knowledge and understanding of how concepts and themes from practical theology and other academic literature have informed my professional practice. The thesis also explores how a ‘child centred’ practical theology within youth sport contributes to the field of pastoral theology as a whole. 6 SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIO The distinctive feature of the Professional Doctorate is that candidates are assessed via the submission of four assignments which constitute a research portfolio. This is designed to introduce the student to different stages of the doctoral journey, and develop the requisite skills and understanding to undertake a programme of advanced research in the form of a substantial thesis. I commenced the Professional Doctorate in practical theology in 2008, because I had reached a stage of my professional career when I wished to reflect on the work I had been doing in the Academy at Manchester United since I joined the Youth Department in 1990. I had developed a deep interest in the pastoral care of the boys I was coaching, and the four components of my professional practice portfolio encapsulate my research interests in this important subject. I used the year one literature review to explain how the power and authority in schoolboy football was transferred from the English Schools Football Association (ESFA) to the professional clubs. This raised many ethical issues regarding how this power was being used by the clubs to the possible detriment of the young players registered in the system. Thus, the paper provided the opportunity to ponder the ethics of this