NOW former Tyrone footballer Harry Loughran hopes to use his experience of battling back from injury to help young people develop mechanisms for coping with setbacks.
A serious back problem forced All-Ireland club winner Loughran to confirm his retirement from football at all levels last week. With time on his hands again after a tireless seven-year rehab effort, the 26-year-old Moy Tir na nOg clubman intends to put his experiences to good use.
“I’d be very interested in the whole topic of resilience and positive psychology,” said Loughran, a teacher at St Jarlath’s PS in Blackwatertown.
“So I’m going to look into doing a Masters in something like that. There’s a big concern at the moment for the emotional health of children and their resilience with lockdown. In the age of social media, I think it’s important that we try to provide children and young people with coping mechanisms to develop resilience. Hopefully I might do something in that area which would tie-in nicely with teaching and coaching at the club as well.”
Loughran also intends to put his experience with his club and with Tyrone to good use in a coaching role. But first he will take a deserved break from the sport that totally consumed his life for the past seven years.
“I think I need a complete break from football,” he said.
“At the moment I think it would be too tough, just a bit too raw to watch the boys train. I’d like to get away from it for a wee while but I will go back to it at some point.
“I’d definitely like to get involved in coaching at the club. I’ll start with the youth teams and give a bit back.”
The back injury he suffered as a teenager ultimately ended Loughran’s career. But he did at least have some moments to savour and represented his club and county in All-Ireland finals in 2018.
“I absolutely loved the buzz of Croke Park,” he said.
“Pulling up on the bus was the best thing for me. I loved the buzz of arriving and seeing the spectators. To play for your club and your county at Croke Park was very special. The opportunity to do that is what I’ll miss most but I’m glad I got that experience.”
