‘I’m never going back to the office’: Cancer survivor packs in advertising job to coach kids football

A 39-year-old cancer survivor is about to launch his own kids football coaching programme after he gave up his job in advertising in a life changing u-turn.

Ciarán Donlon, 39, grew up in Brixton and now lives near Clapham Common. 

Four years ago, when he was a digital advertising manager, Mr Donlon was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He underwent a gruelling process of surgery and chemotherapy sessions. 

It was just before one of these sessions at Guys Cancer Hospital in Great Maze Pond, London Bridge, that Mr Donlon said he felt a sudden change.

He said: “My friend and future boss called me just before I entered the hospital for another day in the cancer chair and asked me how I was doing.

“It was then that something uncontrollable came over me and said ‘I can’t do it, I can’t, I just can’t do it anymore.’

“I said ‘I’m never going to work in the advertising world again, I’m never going back to the office, I’m done!’

“My friend asked, ‘what are you going to do when you get well?’ to which I responded, ‘work with kids or animals’, we both chuckled and he said ‘well I run a coaching business so when you get well come down and check it out’.”

Two years later after lots of physical and mental health rehabilitation, Mr Donlon began his journey as a kids football coach at a summer camp with Footy Fun 4 Kids.

At the summer camp Mr Donlon said he had finally found what he loved. After the summer camp he took on two years of experience working at schools, holiday camps and FA leagues.

He said: “The experience of cancer led me to address the meaning of my own life, why I was put on this planet.

“Money and materials are less important than before and I’m all about the personal nature of life.

“Being a mentor to children, a leader in the local community, a friend to parent’s means everything to me.”

Mr Donlon is now launching his very own football coaching programme called StarFootballers in Brockwell Park.

He said: “During the past four years since my diagnosis I struggled with physical and mental health but every time I enter the football field or school PE hall my life changes, my energy field electrifies, I feel happy, I feel alive, I become free.

“Most of all it’s seeing kids fulfill their potential and feel confident in who they are.

“Kids have come to me and said ‘you are my favourite coach’ parents have said ‘you have been a mentor to my boy’. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Mr Donlon will be running his StarFootballers sessions next to the Lido in Brockwell Park from the first week of September.

There will be separate boys and girls hour-long lessons and for the first six months there will be a cost-of-living discount for everyone in the community – cutting the usual £10 an hour cost to £5 an our until March 2024.

Pictured top: Ciarán Donlon and former under 13 team from Northfields United FC (Picture: Ciarán Donlon)