http:\/\/www.risen.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/02-Where-Would-I-Be-Without-You_.mp3<\/a><\/audio>
\nWhere Would I Be Without You? featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album “Where Would I Be Without You? recorded and produced by Ross Gill<\/p>\nLast week I said that I am privileged to have been asked by my dear friend Mick Mellows to be part of the team that is putting on the \u201cJust One\u201d event in the Portsmouth Guildhall on April 4th and 5th next year . The \u201cJust One\u201d event which includes a talk from J. John and music from the Portsmouth Gospel Choir and Noel Robinson, is being organised by the charity \u201cPhilo Trust\u201d in conjunction with the charity \u201cFaith and Football\u201d, of which Mick is Director. I also said that I would tell you more of Mick and \u201cFaith and Football\u201d this week.
\nI was in my second year of studying to be a PE teacher at King Alfred\u2019s College, Winchester and the buzz was that the centre forward of the England amateur football team was coming to study PE. I had expected at least \u201cRoy of the Rovers\u201d so at first sight Mick did not look anything special, however he was quick, had a great left foot and was totally dedicated. It was not long before he captained the Ist team which I just about scraped into (occasionally) and part of that job was to run the coaching sessions. It was in these that his experience, knowledge and professionalism shone through.
\nIt turned out that Mick had the same room in the \u201cCarfax \u201cstudent accommodation that I had in my first year at King Alfred\u2019s. A room close to ours was felt to be haunted and the whole place was pretty spooky- so Mick and I had much to talk about outside of football.
\nAfter we left college Mick spent a year teaching before playing football professionally in Belgium and eventually Portsmouth FC. It was at this time that we renewed our friendship – I would go to watch him play every week and then meet the Pompey players and the opposition players afterwards in the Players bar. He and his wife Felicity, together with my wife and I would then go for a curry (often paid for by Mick\u2019s winning bonus) Our friendship grew with the four of us going on regular holidays to France. When my two sons, James and Chris were born Mick and Felicity became their God parents.
\nFelicity had studied what was then called Divinity at College – she persuaded Mick to join her at St Mary\u2019s church in Portchester Castle and that led him to become a Christian. He later formed the charity \u201cFaith and Football\u201d with the Pompey legend, Linvoy Primus. The work that they do includes \u201cCommunity Football Leagues, the Social Enterprise and Business Challenge, the Leadership Academy, the Extra Time Literacy Scheme, Walking Football and the Alpha Course. You can read more by visiting www.faithandfootball.org.uk
\nIn 2015 all the tremendous work of \u201cFaith and Football\u201d was rewarded when they received the Queen\u2019s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
\nI have the pleasure of seeing quite a lot of Mick at the moment, first because of the JustOne event and second because we are playing golf together!
\nQuote for the week
\nA problem not anticipated is a problem. A problem anticipated is an opportunity.
\nA.L Davis – Owner of Oakland Raiders American Football Team <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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