FORMER Bradford City defender Wayne Jacobs feared he would have been “dead by 30, or in prison,” had it not been for football.

In a moving presentation, the sportsman-turned-charity founder spoke about how his early success on the pitch was in contrast to the “absolute shambles” elsewhere in his life.

He said: “I got myself into a bit of a mess and I can see when I look back, my world was getting darker and darker. More depression and not being able to handle that.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Former Bradford City footballer Wayne Jacobs, left, spoke at a University of Bradford event. Also pictured are Tom Woodhouse, Prathivadi Anand and Yolanda AntinFormer Bradford City footballer Wayne Jacobs, left, spoke at a University of Bradford event. Also pictured are Tom Woodhouse, Prathivadi Anand and Yolanda Antin (Image: University of Bradford)

Wayne, whose career started at Sheffield Wednesday when he was 16, was speaking at a panel event, Scoring Goals for Peace and Sustainability to discuss the power of football in solving the world's problems, at the University of Bradford, held jointly with Kent State University, Ohio, USA.

He detailed how he became a “moody” child after his parents split when he was six, and how he turned to drink in his late teens.

“Back then, I would confess I would be dead by the time I got to the 30 years of age, or in prison,” he said. “I look to the power of football when my life was really nearly gone and in a mess and it kept me within boundaries. Boundaries of friendships, the laws of the game, punctuality. I learned about success and failure.”

Wayne, who played for Bradford City for 11 years including two seasons in the Premier League, turned his life around when he found Christianity in his 20s. He is co-founder and CEO of the charity One in a Million, which engages children and young people through sports, the arts and enterprise as well as running a secondary school.

Speaking about his desire to start the charity 17 years ago, Wayne said: “I noticed the power and the impact the status of being a footballer gives you, from being able to go to a hospital and light up a young person’s face or go into schools and work with the hardest to reach and the teacher tells you, ‘They have listened to you more in five minutes than they ever do.’

“Using the power of sport for a positive, to impact communities, has a far bigger reach than just the football itself and that’s amazing.”

This year, the University signed a four-year partnership with Bradford City AFC which renamed the club's Valley Parade home ground, The University of Bradford Stadium.

 

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