As part of our commitment to the wellbeing and welfare of everyone connected to the club, we have recently appointed John Toller as chaplain to Carnoustie Panmure FC. The role is not primarily a religious one, John will simply seek to get alongside everyone connected with the club, giving pastoral support to people of all faiths and no faith, providing help and advice on a range of issues.
Around 95{7c374192a6b4ab3759a998c7ed91b6a23e4a55c5a2bdeefb0f495d9809378483} of clubs within Scottish senior football now have a chaplain and the service is overseen by Scottish Director of Sports Chaplaincy, Mark Fleming
Mark Fleming, Scottish Director Of
Sport Chaplaincy
Mark is also chaplain to the Scottish FA. Mark became chaplain at Partick Thistle FC in 1998 in the midst of financial turmoil at the club. He explains: “Chaplains are confidantes, a friend to everyone at the club. Their goal is through regular, natural interaction to become known, liked and trusted so that people feel they can approach them about any issue. If anyone needs someone to confide in or if they are looking for practical, emotional, mental or spiritual support in any particular area of life, the chaplain is well-placed to be that person. They are qualified and experienced in a range of life issues and events, however, they also have a wide network of contacts within and outside Sport Chaplaincy who can provide help in areas the chaplain does not have the expertise in. All our chaplains are vetted, trained and held accountable and I am personally accountable to the SFA.”
A number of Junior clubs are now expressing interest in having a chaplain and here at Carnoustie we want to embrace any opportunity to develop our club in our care for everyone connected to it. We’re delighted to have John on board at Carnoustie and we’re sure he will be invaluable to the whole club as we continue to move forward.
Mark concludes, “There are many lows associated with life in football and it is sometimes difficult for players, coaches and other staff to find the right person to discuss how they are feeling when things are not going well for them. This is where a club chaplain fits in. Anyone at the club can ask the chaplain confidentially for help and advice to get them through whatever situation they find themselves in. The one thing he can’t do is bring divine intervention to bear on results!”
John made his “debut” at training on Monday night where he met the players and some of the committee and will be at Saturday’s GA Cup tie against Scone Thistle..
We did manage to sit down with John during the week for a chat and find out about more about him.
So John, welcome to Carnoustie Panmure, can you tell us about yourself.
Yes no problem, I am 33 years old born in Dundee. I am married to Jemma and we have three children, Daniel Callum and Eilidh.
To take on a job like Chaplain at a football club you must have a bit of a football background
Not particularly, I don’t know a great deal about the Juniors. I do support Dundee United although I haven’t been to Tannadice for a while.
Well that will make you popular with some of our supporters anyway. You said you were born in Dundee, what brings you to
Carnoustie ?
I am the Minister at Carnoustie Baptist Church and have been since 2012 and we have recently moved to the town so I am local I guess.
What do you think you will bring to the club ?
I recognise that everyone in life has different challenges and struggles and that football brings its own challenges and its not always easy to ask for the help or support to overcome these challenges. I am glad that I am here at the club to be available to anybody at the club to offer whatever support they might need.
John Toller,
Carnoustie Panmure FC Chaplain
