This came after he lost his grandfather, godfather and father – who was just 47 – all within the space of a few tragic months.
“I was stuck in a rut and suffering from bad depression,” Auguste says. “I turned to drug abuse, which is something I never thought I would say. I was on a complete downward spiral.”
Auguste was selected after excelling at a Homeless FA Training Centre at Arsenal in the Community – a scheme run by his boyhood heroes – and will spearhead England as they face Poland, Austria, Peru, Greece and Zimbabwe in Group H.
“Ever since I made the application, things have improved for me day by day, week by week,” he says. “It has given me a new meaning for life. This whole experience has led me to stop questioning myself so much. I have more faith in my ability, my confidence has escalated and all I want to do now is help other people.
“I was in a tedious cycle before, where things might be going well and then all of a sudden something small would knock me straight back. Now, since I’ve been with Arsenal and the Homeless FA, when something goes wrong I don’t take it so negatively, I try to look for a positive outcome to move forward.
After having my son, this has been the second-best experience of my life
“I’m very proud of everything I’ve achieved in such a short space of time,” Auguste adds. “To represent your country at any level, in any way, in any sport, is huge. After having my son, this has been the second-best experience of my life.”
England are also sending a women’s team to Amsterdam, which will take inspiration from the success of Mark Sampson’s international side at this year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup, where they finished a best-ever third place.
One of the Homeless World Cup side’s brightest prospects is Hannah Voice, a 20-year-old former Chelsea trialist who fell homeless after life went sour at home in Horsham, West Sussex.
“I had a family breakdown, which led to me deciding I couldn’t live there any more,” explains Hannah. “I ended up in a YMCA hostel down the road from where I was living with my mum and dad.”
Manchester United supporter Hannah made the final England squad after coming through the Brighton and Hove Albion training centre earlier this year and will face holders Chile, USA, Mexico, Denmark, India, Egypt and Finland in Group B. However, while the prospect of representing England in Amsterdam is undoubtedly something to savour, Hannah’s experience as a Homeless FA graduate has proved valuable in so many ways.
This whole year has just opened the door for the rest of my life
“I have such an amazing relationship with my family again,” Hannah says. “This whole year has just opened the door for the rest of my life.
“I’m a different person than I was even a year ago. I was going down a bad route, and then when I ended up in the hostel it just got so much worse. I could cry just thinking about it.”
Top photo: Hannah Voice by Joana Freitas and Mesit Osman
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