Keeping it together
|John Åsland (left) with fellow Norway player Kim Roe. Image: HWC/Rebecca Corbett
“We are a happy big community”
This is the first in a series of player interviews from the Nordic Homeless Cup, which took place on 11-12th May 2022. John Åsland represented Norway for the first time at the tournament.
When you first speak to Norway’s goalkeeper John Åsland he comes across as a bit shy but then his teammate Kim Roe comes over and gives him a hug and his face bursts out in a huge smile, any nervousness evaporating almost immediately.
Kim makes a joke and leaves him to it, and the 20-year-old goalkeeper sits down, and we begin to chat. John’s life has changed a lot in the last six weeks, in April 2022 he finished a year in rehab after four years of drug abuse. Now he’s in Stockholm for the first-time representing Norway at the Nordic Homeless Cup.
“It is a very good feeling to be finished rehab, it’s a weird feeling, but I have good people around me, I have the football, I have the club and everyone around me is in the same boat as me. They have been there, they have done that, so they know how I feel, I know how they feel.”
Football has always been part of John’s life; he’s played for as long as he can remember and looks at ease when he’s on the pitch with his teammates.
|“I am representing my country, that is very big for me.” Image: HWC/Rebecca Corbett
“I am excited to play – I have the flag on my chest, I am representing my country, that is very big for me. It is a good feeling singing the national songs.”
As we’re talking it’s clear that he’s come a long way since his four years that were defined and dictated by drugs. When speaking to him, it makes it strikingly obvious how easy it is to fall into addiction and how fast it can take hold and control your life.
“It happened like all kids do, at parties, weekends drinking, and then some guy had a joint and some guy had a bag of something, and I thought ‘why not, I’m young’. I had no reason not to take it. I tried it, and then I started doing it every weekend. That went on for about two years.”
“I had a job, and I still had the job, but I called in sick and wasn’t there a lot. That had consequences and they gave me my final notice and said if I don’t come to work, we will have to let you go.”
It wasn’t only his employers that couldn’t cope with his lifestyle. “For half of my life I was living with my dad, when I started taking drugs, I also lived with my dad, but I got kicked out. I didn’t have a place to be, for maybe 4-5 months, so I was staying with friends – on different couches and everywhere.”
“Then I didn’t have the money for it, so I started selling drugs, I got more fucked about in my life. I was caught by the police and was arrested and sentenced. That was not a good time.”
“At that point, I realised I had to go to rehab and get clean and do what I like and that is football. Football and the people got me out.”
During the rehabilitation programme with the Salvation Army in Stavanger, John started playing football again. “I was in rehab and then I made a friend who was already playing football for the team, she took me with her because I wanted to play football while I was in rehab, and I got connected with the manager.”
When I ask him what makes football so special for him, his answer is immediate: “the people”.
“The players and guys are amazing, we understand each other, we’re very positive about everything. If I don’t feel good, or they don’t feel good, we are there for each other.”
|“I don’t feel good, or they don’t feel good, we are there for each other.” Image: HWC/Rebecca Corbett
“It’s the people and the atmosphere we have because we all know each other. I always know I can come to a guy and say, I need to talk and just to be with you because I don’t feel good or something else is happening.”
“We are a happy big community, we are always together, training together and being together all the time.”
Drug addiction, rehab and recovery can be isolating, but with the support from his teammates and the team at the Salvation army, it’s clear that John isn’t only supported on the pitch, he’s joined a family and this family looks after each other and understands, no matter what.
Find out more about the Salvation Army’s work in Norway and how they’re using football to end homelessness and tackle social isolation.
Words & Images: Rebecca Corbett