Charity advises football fans on promotion nerves

Jon Neal said the "beautiful game" influenced emotions, both positively and negatively

A mental health charity is advising Ipswich Town fans how to cope with the stress associated with their promotion battle.

Town need four points from their remaining two games to secure back-to-back promotions.

Suffolk Mind said it learnt a lot from research around Town’s promotion last season.

Chief executive Jon Neal advised supporters to “remember the things in life that we can and can’t control”, adding that exercising and post-game discourse could help nervous fans.

‘Fight or flight’

The Tractor Boys head to Coventry City later, before a home tie with Huddersfield on the final day of the season on Saturday.

A win and a draw would guarantee promotion to the Premier League.

Mr Neal, 48, said: “Every football fan knows how much the beautiful game can influence our emotions.

“The matchday nerves so many of us feel are linked to an increase in cortisol in the body, more commonly known as the ‘fight or flight’ hormone.

“You can combat those feelings by ensuring your emotional and physical needs are being well met – helping your body produce more of the ‘feel good’ hormones, endorphins.”

Ipswich Town fans - seen here at Carrow Road - are hoping their team can overtake Leeds United to clinch runners-up spot in the Championship

He added that the brain did not always recognise the difference between the stress brought on by a match and that of being in physical danger.

This causes cortisol to increase, something that can be combated by focusing on the things you can control, exercising, and talking.

"The wellbeing of people was affected last time; celebrating had a positive impact on stress levels," he said.

"Football brings people together and match day has a real buzz of people coming together and talking - it is unique to the sport."

He added that it was important to equip ourselves with the tools to calm down.