Helping men's mental health through football: the new group playing the beautiful game

The power of playing football is helping a new group of men with their mental health.

Lads United Rochdale and Oldham meet every Monday evening at 8pm at the Oulder Hill Sports Complex, giving those attending the opportunity to forget about their problems for an hour by focusing on playing the beautiful game.

It’s a system that works well, helping mental health through sport, says the group’s founder, Barrie Hart.

Barrie, who works at Buckley Hall Prison, started the group after a good friend of his set up the original Lads United in Blackburn and Darwen during the Covid lockdowns.

“We got together and had a kick about,” he said. “It then escalated to being able to hire a 4G pitch.”

Barrie continued to attend the group before asking his mate if he could branch out closer to home, in order to help more people.

“I’ve been in football all my life. I’ve run grassroots teams and wanted something else, so this also gave me something else to do,” he explained. “I get a lot of enjoyment out of helping people.”

With a lot of interest, the Rochdale and Oldham group was started. It is managed via a group What’sApp chat where details are posted on a regular basis.

A small subs fee covers the cost of hiring Oulder Hill and equipment, whilst also raising money for local people in need. The group has also just been sponsored with a new football kit by the Champness Hall Trust.

Further support – where required – is provided by mental health professionals, and any of the lads can also chat to Barrie.

He added: “If any lads are struggling, they have the peer support of the group and can also speak to trained counsellors through Mind.

“When you’re playing sport, you don’t think about what’s going on in life away from the pitch. We’ve got people who enjoy football and people who have never played it before.

“We have a laugh, a kick about and finish playing around 9pm. Sometimes we go for a pint: we try and visit a local pub to funds back into the community.

“I’ve got loads of ideas in the pipeline such as a Ladies United and a second venue, possibly in Oldham. I’ve applied for funding which would help with those.”

Lads United Rochdale and Oldham also plays friendly games with similar groups and has so far held matches against teams such as Rochdale Military Vets, with the next game organised for 6 May.

The lads will play against Oldham’s Mental Health Football at the Crown Oil Arena.

 

 

Some of the group’s attendees have also shared their stories, and told more about what they get from the group.

One said: “I joined as I’ve struggled with my mental health, namely depression, anxiety and complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Initially I didn't understand why I felt like I did, and it was hard to speak about these conditions, even to loved ones.

“Thanks to the support and help from friends and family once I did eventually reach out, I realised that I can overcome the daily struggles that these conditions provide to living day to day.

“As a person that has always played football at an amateur level, I now have an avenue to continue playing even in my 40s and form new friends to help enhance my support network even further. Lads United breaks down barriers and every person instantly becomes an equal – no matter why they join or what their experience of playing football as it is so much more to those that become members.

“It offers a no-judgement environment which is easy going and supportive and is always looking for support networks to partner with to enhance what the club can offer its members and other worthy causes. To be able to understand that others may be struggling and not wish to say anything but, through the friendships formed as part of the club, being able to offer personal insight to help others and use their experiences to strengthen my resilience is amazing.

“The club normalises what others may see as struggles and definitely lives up to its motto through its support and the amazing people it has as its members. It means a lot to be part of such an amazing group of people who more than anything wants to help and support each other all tied together by staying active and playing football.”

A second said: “I have really enjoyed getting involved with Lads United the last few months. It has proved a welcome distraction from some personal issues of late, thankfully which are sorted now.

“Connecting with the other lads on the app and when we get together and play is something I’ve really enjoyed and I can see how supportive everyone is.”

 

 

Another man said: “For many years I’ve struggled with depression and various other mental health issues. Twenty years ago, I lost my sister to a rare heart condition when she was 14, and then I lost my brother, then 17, to the same condition.

“For years I struggled to develop relationships due to mental health and depression as I was scared to let people in and then lose them too.

“As the condition was hereditary, I spent years living in constant dread, worrying that myself and my kids could have it. Thankfully, DNA testing cleared us all, but I still struggled due to not being able to process what happened.

“A few years later, my wife was diagnosed with various degenerative conditions, and as her health has slowly deteriorated, I became more and more of a carer to her. This dominated my life and I focused only on working and looking after her full time. This took its toll, and depression started to creep back in.

“Although I had realised what was happening, I didn’t have the strength, motivation, support and tools to do anything about it, until Barrie set up Lads United.

“I knew I had to do something about my mental health, so I jumped on board straight away: my confidence has returned, my general health has improved, I’m making friends and socialising more often. The fitness and break from everything has helped and my state of mind is so much stronger.

“The support from the group is fantastic and I know there is always someone I can talk to if I ever feel the need, as well as being able to be there to support others using my experiences, helps me to be stronger too.

“I honestly couldn’t thank Barrie and Lads United enough for everything; the positive effects it’s had on me and my family have been life changing.

“Despite my wife now being terminally ill, I am now strong enough mentally to be a full-time worker, full time carer, a better husband, father, friend and support to others, as well as being able to process my thoughts in a healthier way, all thanks to Lads United.”

For more information, please contact Lads United Rochdale and Oldham through their Facebook page.