A Scotland international footballer has spoken about his Catholic faith in a segment for BBC Scotland’s A View From The Terrace, filmed in part at a church where the Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated.
AFC Bournemouth winger and Scotland international Ben Doak revealed details of his faith journey at the Bournemouth Oratory.
Doak, 20, described his religious background and return to practice. “I was brought up a Catholic, got baptised and received my Communion and things like that. But as I grew up, I kind of strayed away from it,” he said.
He described a period of loneliness after moving away from home early in his career. “Being away from home when I first moved can get quite lonely at times and I just felt God calling me,” Doak said.
“There’s a lot of stuff that can pull you away from God, especially the higher you go up and the more money you start to earn,” he added.
The forward, who has faced multiple injuries including three operations in recent years as well as a recent hamstring problem on international duty, explained the role faith plays in maintaining perspective. “God just keeps you grounded. Keeps you humble,” he said. “I heavily rely on God to avoid doing the wrong things.”
Doak said he wears a St Michael the Archangel medal, describing the saint as a protector who keeps “all evil” away from him.
“When I came to God, I started to feel a bit better and stronger and began coping better with things,” he said. “He’s never going to abandon you.”
Doak added that deepening his faith has changed his priorities. “As I’ve grown into my faith, it’s got a lot easier because I know what’s important now. Football is not the be all and end all,” he said. “I pray before games. I read the Bible. It’s the most important thing in my life.”
“If you’re wondering, I’m not praying for a hat-trick or anything,” he joked. “That’s not the important thing.”
He further described the personal impact of faith. “If I don’t feel like I’ve got an active relationship with Jesus and my faith, it feels like I can’t function at times. It just gives me peace of mind and confidence,” Doak said. “Setbacks aren’t really setbacks any more. It’s just part of the plan.”
Doak acknowledged the pressures of playing football at an elite level but said “the pros definitely outweigh the cons” and chose to focus on gratitude.
“I think footballers who are religious are starting to see that we’ve been blessed with a platform to do the right thing and to be good role models,” he said. “I believe that He puts us where we are for a reason.”
The segment shows Doak praying in the church and wearing a cross necklace alongside his St Michael medal. The Bournemouth Oratory has requested prayers for his ongoing recovery.
The full feature is available on BBC iPlayer, with the segment where Doak shares about his faith available on YouTube. Doak transferred to Bournemouth from Liverpool in 2025 and has represented Scotland at senior level.
