Sands United FC use football as a way to help and support men that have been affected by baby loss.
There are currently 39 Sands United teams across the UK that provide a supportive community for men to handle and process their grief.
When going through the bereavement there are traditional support options available through the hospital and charities, but they are not always routes that men are comfortable to go down. Andy Lindley, Chairman of the Brighton & Hove side, said: “What I found through my own experience is I wasn’t emotionally mature enough to have those conversations.”
Sands United provides an alternative support method where men can come together and join a team who understand and have been through the same experiences. Nick Lang, Chairman of the Solent team, said: “I think sport brings people together in a way that nothing else does, football even more so.”
The sessions are open to all footballing abilities, and they offer an opportunity for the players to meet up and talk as much or as little as they want. Nick said: “One thing not to do is suffer alone.”
For further information on the charity Sands, as well as Sands United FC please click here.
