Jason's life right-back on track

Defender Jason McCarthy’s “Damascus Road moment” happened on an English highway – and even more remarkable events followed.

McCarthy, now a right-back at League One Wycombe Wanderers with close to 300 career appearances, admits football was his “god” until he was 21.

But then the game he loves, and parts of the rest of his life, started to collapse.

He told Premier Christianity: “I went on a couple of loan moves before signing for Barnsley. I moved up to South Yorkshire. 

“It was the worst year of my life. I got held at knifepoint, was assaulted in a nightclub, got burgled. My uncle and granddad passed away in the same week. My dad became depressed, and I started really struggling.”

And it got worse.

“I was dropped from the team. The thing keeping me afloat was ripped away. I realised all my happiness was built on football.”

But it was football that would help rescue McCarthy.

“A guy in the team, George Moncur, was a Christian. He was constantly talking to me about Jesus. I loved being around him because he was so joyful, and we became quite close. George sowed a seed.”

He signed for Wycombe, and one day noticed teammates Alex Samuel and Ben Frempah talking about Jesus.