People may have a mental image of how Christian football may be played.
But you can forget the “After you, vicar” picture.
This is a real blood and guts sport and a man who has starred for a Huddersfield team in the Yorkshire Christian Football league for the last 20 years bears the scars.
“People have described me as a dirty midfielder, and that’s probably fair,” says Andy Broadhead, 39.
“It’s a very competitive league and there are more than a few tackles flying around in games. We have some former pros playing in the competition and no-one holds back.”
Andy was speaking as he recovered from a tribute game of football held to celebrate his 20-year history playing in the Christian league.
For most of that time, he has played for Huddersfield Elim FC, affiliated to the Elim Church in St John’s Road.
He has finally hung up his boots and admits he was “stiff as a board” after the tribute game between Elim and team of “legends” from the league.
Andy has played every season in the Yorkshire Christian Football League since its formation in 1993.
He first joined West Leeds in 1993 but signed for the Elim side two years later.
Andy said: “I first got the football bug at one of the church summer camps we had in Yorkshire, when there was a soccer tournament and my team won.
“The churches then set up a five-a-side league with games each week and it quickly developed into the proper league.
“I think people have an image of a Christian football league but the standard is very good, even though I’m not the world’s greatest footballer.”
He moved to Rotherham but continued to play for Elim before the demands of travelling and those of his wife Catherine and their new baby son Isaac forced his retirement.
When he announced he was quitting at the start of the new season, the Elim side decided to give a tribute to the long-standing league member and arranged a game between the current Huddersfield Elim FC and Broadhead Legends - a select squad of players Andy has played with over the 20 years.
Elim won 8-2.
Andy has played all positions for Huddersfield including goalkeeper, but his preferred positions are central midfield or striker.
His record over 20 years in the league adds up to 262 games, 154 goals, 45 Man of the Match Awards and five Golden Boots as the season’s top scorer.
On the darker side, Andy has also received five yellow cards, two red cards and scored an own goal when he was playing for West Leeds against Huddersfield.
Huddersfield Elim FC continue to play in the Yorkshire Christian Football league and are currently top of Division Two, having won their first two games.
