Our History

Sports Chaplaincy UK & Ireland (SCUKI) traces its origins to 1991, when the Revd John Boyers pioneered a more organised approach to sports chaplaincy while serving initially as chaplain at Watford Football Club and later at Manchester United. With the support and encouragement of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the charity SCORE - Sports Chaplaincy Offering Resources and Encouragement was established to develop and support chaplaincy within British sport.

During its first two decades, the work grew from its roots in professional football into other sports, including horse racing, Rugby League, Rugby Union, cricket and athletics. The organisation also became involved in chaplaincy at major sporting events, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games and international championships.

In 2011, SCORE changed its name and rebranded to Sports Chaplaincy UK, reflecting its increasingly clear focus on providing high-quality pastoral and spiritual care within the whole of the sporting community. Following John Boyers' pioneering leadership, Richard Gamble served as Chief Executive, helping to develop the organisation during a period of change, development and the greater recognition of sports chaplaincy.

In January 2015, Revd Warren Evans was appointed CEO, having already played a significant role in helping to develop chaplaincy within Rugby League. Under his leadership, Sports Chaplaincy has continued to expand significantly across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, developing chaplaincy from elite and professional sport through to grassroots and community settings. Today, hundreds of trained chaplains provide ongoing pastoral and spiritual care to people of faith and no faith across a growing range of sports and sporting communities.

SCUKI is also a founding member of the Global Sports Chaplaincy Association (GSCA), helping to connect and strengthen sports chaplaincy internationally through collaboration, shared learning and the development of chaplaincy in different sporting and cultural contexts.

Recent developments have included stronger national leadership across the four nations, closer partnerships with sporting organisations and churches, the development of training and resources, and initiatives such as National Sports Sunday and Global Sports Sunday. The organisation is also working to increase the number and reach of trained chaplains so that many more people within the UK's and Ireland's sporting communities can access appropriate pastoral and spiritual care.

From one pioneering football chaplain in 1991, Sports Chaplaincy UK & Ireland has developed into a national movement with growing international influence, while remaining committed to its central purpose: serving sport through excellence in chaplaincy.

Read more about the history of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.



Please watch a selection of our history videos: