Mental health football club gets people talking

Sean Davies said results on the pitch do not matter compared to those off it

A mental health football team has been set up in Coventry to help people talk about their struggles.

Sean Davies, 33, a Coventry University staff member, said he was inspired to set up the team after facing his own issues, including dealing with the loss of loved ones.

Stay Strong United now gives people the opportunity to be active as well as be in a safe space to voice their feelings.

"The amount of responses and people saying, ‘I am looking forward to joining in and actually having something that is a safe space’ has been unbelievable," Mr Davies said.

Working with the university’s apprentices, he explained: "I decided to set up this mental health football team to support myself and others to go out there and utilise football as a foundation to improve their mental health.

Any footballing ability

"You have a platform to go and just play football, make some friends, talk openly about how your week has been and talk about your mental health, knowing this is a safe environment."

He said he has taken a "lot of pride in" the team's creation, which has emphasised for him that it is not the result on the pitch that matters but the one off it.

Stay Strong United is open to anyone aged 18 or over, male or female, of any footballing ability.

"My ethos is just to turn up and play and enjoy yourself. I will be looking forward to welcoming everyone with open arms to the club," Mr Davies added.

The club’s sessions take place at Christ the King FC in Coventry and Stay Strong United will be taking part in a festival hosted by the West Midlands Mental Health League on 26 June.

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