WATCH: Moray Mental Health FC team up with Mikeysline
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IF YOU love football, you know it comes with highs and lows, good days and bad, a rollercoaster of emotions – a bit like your mental health.
What if you could indulge your passion for the beautiful game at the same time as talking about how you are feeling and finding support with like-minded teammates?
Well, Moray now has a football club dedicated to just that – Moray Mental Health FC!
Founded by friends Steven Simpson (28), Matty Slinger (31) and Phil Barton (28), the club aims to help people struggling with their mental health and give them the chance to get some exercise and have others to talk to.
The death of a close friend by suicide is one of the main motivators behind forming the club.
Steven, from Kinloss, said: "Four years ago we lost a very close mate. Charlie was 24 and to lose someone at such a young age, it was quite a shock. A lot of people didn't even know he was going through some problems.
"Mental Mechanics, who are lads from Forres, but based in Edinburgh, set up a team, and what we have seen them achieve it motivated us to do more locally.
"We are hoping to join together and have fundraising matches with them.
"Losing my own close mate Charlie I wanted to understand it (mental health) more. If I can help one person I would see that as a success.
"That's why it hit quite hard because none of us saw it coming. That's why we want to get the message across that it is OK to not be OK, and especially guys need to talk more."
Matty, who also lives in Kinloss, added: "People would say Charlie was one of the funniest people you could ever meet.
"During Covid I was living on my own and I noticed my mental health got quite bad and I was drinking more. I began to understand my own mental health.
"Women can struggle as much as men. We had a couple of girls message to ask if they could join as well.
"Even if someone comes down to our sessions and they don't want to speak, we can give out leaflets about Mikeysline, so they know they can go home and give them a phone or text."
Mikeysline is a Highlands and Moray suicide-prevention charity formed in 2015 following the deaths of two young men, Martin Shaw and Michael Williamson, in the Highlands.
Phil, from Forres, said: "Charlie was the year below me at school. A lot of people weren't aware.
"He was someone you would stop and have a chat with."
Phil, a project manager at RAF Lossiemouth, added: "We want to make sure in the event that someone does need to talk, we can provide the correct avenues where people can seek help."
"One of the girls who came to our sessions said she wasn't the greatest talker but she was glad she could come down and socialise in a football aspect."
If people don't want to talk at the football sessions, the club can signpost them to Mikeysline and other support available locally.
And the charity hopes to get volunteers to attend some of the sessions from time to time, to outline the work they do.
Matty, who works with the Royal Bank of Scotland on its mobile banking facility in Moray, said: "It's about putting people at ease so they can feel good about themselves."
"It is not an abilities thing, it is about enjoying yourself. A lot of people might not get out of the house much and might not have many friends.
"It's a chance to meet people, talk and have a kickabout."
The club had its first session last week at the Gleaner Arena in Elgin when 17 people turned up, including two women.
"I think the dream would be to have a men's team, women's team, veterans' team. Soccer 7s who do a lot of good work in Forres have reached out to us as well," said Matty.
"We could have a kids' team where you teach them how to play football and also promote mental health, especially as kids are on social media a lot younger now as well."
Steven, who has sponsored the team's kits through his gardening business, added: "We thought about six or seven people would turn up to the first session but we had 17."
"Hopefully that will encourage more people to join as well.
"We had rolling subs and you can sit out whenever you want and have a breather.
"It would be great to see people of any age turning up."
Although Mikeysline was created as a direct response to two young men taking their own lives, its support network is for men and women of all ages.
Moray Mental Health FC has partnered with Mikeysline and will look to fundraise for the charity.
They are already planning a match with the Mental Mechanics, possibly at Mosset Park, where Steven, a former Forres Mechanics goalkeeper, is groundsman.
And they are also set to take on a Highland News and Media staff team, again to raise money for Mikeysline, which is HNM's charity of the year.
They have chosen pink kits, in a nod to the Mental Mechanics team who also chose a pink kit as that is the colour of the brain.
It is also hoped the striking home and away kits will catch people's attention when they see people wearing them, so helping to raise awareness.
Moray Mental Health FC has its own Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.
The sessions will take place at different venues and times and dates will be posted on social media.
If you want to find out more you can also email moraymentalhealthfc@gmail.com
The club also has a GoFundMe page as well to help with equipment.
And a percentage of shirt sales goes to the club as well.
