Playing the Long Game (with Mark Fleming)

Episode 17 of the PEP Talk podcast, hosted by Andy Bannister, titled "Playing the Long Game (with Mark Fleming)" was published on February 11, 2026 and runs 28 minutes.

February 11, 2026 ·28m · PEP Talk

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Summary

Many sporting clubs are the largest social group in any given local community. Do the local churches view them as rivals, or mission fields? Today, more clubs are recognising the competitive benefits of caring emotionally and spiritually for their athletes, opening up huge opportunities for Christian ministry. Here on PEP Talk, sport enthusiasts Gavin Matthews and Simon Wenham learn more about the the area of sports chaplaincy. Mark Fleming has been chaplain to Partick Thistle Football Club since 1989. He now serves as National Director for Scotland at Sports Chaplaincy UK [https://www.sportschaplaincy.org.uk/Groups/426259/Scotland.aspx], where he recruits, trains, and mentors chaplains across the nation. He has provided in-house mental health awareness training at a range of football clubs and sporting governing bodies such as the English Football Association, Scottish Football Association, Scottish Rugby Union and the Camanachd Association. He has written a book on his experiences titled "Confessions of a Football Chaplain" available here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Confessions-Football-Chaplain-Mark-Fleming/dp/B08KJ24G2P].

Episode Description

Mark Fleming has been chaplain to Partick Thistle Football Club since 1989. He now serves as National Director for Scotland at Sports Chaplaincy UK, where he recruits, trains, and mentors chaplains across the nation. He has provided in-house mental health awareness training at a range of football clubs and sporting governing bodies such as the English Football Association, Scottish Football Association, Scottish Rugby Union and the Camanachd Association. He has written a book on his experiences titled "Confessions of a Football Chaplain" available here.