Wembley Stadium hosted the first of two events in our Faith and Football programme this month, with a Christmas special held on Monday 10 December.
Over 500 people were in attendance with AI Johnson welcoming guests with some freestyling before the event began with a prayer from Cardinal Vincent Nichols and an introduction to our host, Simon Thomas of Sky Sports.
Some welcoming video messages from FA Chair Debbie Hewitt MBE and members of our England squad followed to kick-off the event, before our first showcase saw the current PFA chair and Leyton Orient player Omar Beckles interviewed on stage about the importance of his faith and beliefs through the ups and downs of his career. The Ezra Collective were then welcomed on stage to speak about their faith and the impact it’s had on their lives.
The second showcase came from Football Projects, which included segments on the elite performance pathway from Ian Lancaster of Christians in Sport and then the women’s football bible study project with Gisella Otten, a former Dutch league player herself.
Guests were then treated to a video feature around England’s Michelle Agyemang, a committed Christian who burst onto the scene in 2025 with her Lionesses debut and subsequent goals as England went on to win at UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.
A look at grassroots football followed with a celebration of three grassroots schemes that covered Ambassadors in Football with Martin Bateman, Kick London with Joe Lowther and Bridge the Gap with Tristan Lury.
Our final showcase was around Christianity and the professional player, with former Crystal Palace player Joel Ward interviewed on stage about his career and his faith before Reverend Steve Chalke and Mike Summers joined Ward on stage to discuss their involvement at the Palace for Life project.
"For me personally, throughout my career with the highs and lows, my faith has given me an anchor - something bigger than myself to hold onto,” revealed Ward, who lifted the Emirates FA Cup in 2025 as Palace’s club captain.
"It's great to get so many people in the same room, with the same vision about faith in sport and football and it's encouraging to see.”
Finally, the guests then headed pitchside at Wembley for the act of worship led by Bishop of Lancaster Jill Duff and Reverend Alan Comfort, a former footballer himself with Leyton Orient, QPR, Cambridge United and Middlesbrough.
Songs came from the London Adventist Chorale with musical accompaniment from the Regent Hall Salvation Army Band and prayers from Jane Branagan of the London City Lionesses.
The event was brought to a close by the FA’s head of diversity and inclusion strategic programmes with a Christmas dinner buffet served for guests.
