Impact Stories

By now, it’s well documented that men’s mental health is a huge issue affecting this country.

In the UK, men aged 40-49 have higher suicide rates than any other group. Despite this, only 36% of NHS talking therapy referrals are for men, according to the Mental Health Foundation.

Ben, from Sussex, knows all too well what it feels like to suffer behind a smile.

Football has always been one of the biggest parts of Ben’s life. “I’m never happier than when I’m on a football pitch with a ball at my feet,” he told us.

In 2014, Ben suffered a catastrophic leg break. He thought he might never step out onto a pitch again.

“I was actually told that I may never play football again,” Ben said, “but three surgeries and some intense treatment later, I was back on the road to recovery.”

Miraculously, Ben found he was able to carry on playing small-sided games. He did, however, have to leave the 11-a-side game behind.

The whole ordeal was incredibly tough on him.

The pain of the injury, the arduous recovery, the threat of losing the game he loves forever. It came as no surprise that his mental health took a big blow.

Outside of his accident, mental health has long been a struggle for Ben. Like many people out there, he doesn’t have the immediate support of his family to rely on.

“I suffer with both depression and anxiety. I’m a massive over-thinker and care deeply about others, and this often leaves me neglecting myself,” Ben said.

“I’m already receiving professional help about the circumstances of my childhood. I’m a single guy, no wife, no kids, I have no relations with my parents, and my family is very much scattered around the globe.

“That means the dependency just isn’t there. All this put together means I don’t really have an outlet for my thoughts, so people like me are forced to find our own comfort and safety.”

There are so many people out there who have stories just like Ben’s. People who need support getting through the toughest times of their lives.

To try and make a difference in Sussex, we partnered with NHS Charities Together and Heads On to bring the More Than Football programme to life.

In March 2022, we started delivering More Than Football to men aged 30-50 all over Sussex. More Than Football was created in order to bring men together, and help support their mental health through the power of football.

The idea was simple: groups of men meet up every week to have a friendly kick-about and a group talking session. Through the common interest they all share in football, the group keep fit, support each other, and make friends for life.

When Ben heard about More Than Football, he knew it was perfect for him.

Finding a network of people who he can relate to is one of the reasons Ben finds football so important.

There are real life issues that are hidden behind the smiles we put on.

“To help cope with the ‘darker’ side of my mind, I just need to be surrounded by people who I can talk to,” he said.

“Football, for me, is my biggest coping mechanism. I already played on Mondays with another group, but once a week is not enough for me.

“When you spend the majority of the day in your own head … it’s dangerous.”

“The idea behind joining More Than Football was to find other people in the same boat as me – not necessarily recovering from an an injury, but finding other people like me who use football to find solace and as an escape from reality.

“I’m never more happy than when I’m contributing on the pitch, and indulging in that general feeling of being part of a team.”

Ben joined our Storrington group and found it to be a huge help. Thursday nights are now something he looks forward to every single week.

“My endorphin levels are through the roof after I play,” Ben told us.

“Thursdays are something I have to look forward to each week. It gives me that purpose to help others, play well, and get myself through another 24 hours.”

The love of football brings them all together, but in many ways football is just an ice-breaker, breaking down barriers and giving men a chance to talk.

Through going to his Thursday night sessions, Ben says he has met some incredible people and made some firm friends.

“It’s a new community of people to be involved with, all from different backgrounds who each have their own stories to tell,” he said.

“A large friendship group has formed off the back of this Storrington group – something that would absolutely not have happened otherwise.”

Ben is very keen on highlighting the challenges that men face with their mental health.

“I want to raise awareness about men’s mental health, and shine a light on those of us that do suffer. I want to bring exposure to the real life issues that are hidden behind the smiles we put on.”

Having spent a number of weeks with the Storrington group, Ben found that helping other people has been just as important as being helped himself.

“Another great thing about More Than Football is that I can help others,” he said.

“Even if it means just a conversation about someone’s day, sometimes that can be enough for a man to realise his worth. It can turn things around for guys who might be having a bad day.

“A talk is really all it takes sometimes.”

Since 2022, hundreds of men across Sussex have benefitted from the programme.

More Than Football has had 13 groups all over East and West Sussex – from Chichester in the west, to Hastings in the east.

Since its launch last year, we’ve held over 100 sessions for more than 230 men.

By all measures, the programme has been a huge success. An AITC coach will supervise each course for 10 weeks, but a lot of groups have decided to stay together and organise sessions by themselves at the end of the 10 weeks.

If you’d like to find out more, or get involved with the programme yourself, don’t hesitate to get in touch. It’s free, and it could change your life.

Just click this link to find out more.

This story was written when our name was Albion in the Community. As of August 1 2023, we are the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation.