FOOTBALL WALK, FOOTBALL TALK: Meet at Tom’s Seat

Men’s mental health is still a taboo subject in many quarters. The subject isn’t really addressed or talked about. In 2019, we at Rothbury Football Club in the Northern Football Alliance, and the wider community, were left devastated by an incident involving a popular friend and former player. 

So we know that getting men to talk about their mental health is hard. Getting men to open up about football, however, is much easier. How many conversations have you had that have started with ‘Were you at the match on Saturday?’ or ‘Did the see the game on the TV last night?’ 

Discussing football while having a short walk out in the open air is an easier way to get men – and women, if they would like to come along too as inclusivity is important – to talk. Walking is good for your body and talking is good for your mind.

The project idea is to bring a series of health walks from Tom’s seat at our ground away into the woodland and countryside surrounding as a project. Many men identify with their football clubs and if a player or member of staff could be available to join in on a walk, then they would be even more appealing.  

Rothbury FC have also approached the Carlisle United Community Sports Trust to bring the idea of ‘Football Walk, Football Talk’ to the wider football community as it is hoped that the idea of health walks from football grounds can be scaled out nationally. 

It is very much a project that is still in the conception stage and if anyone would like to get involved by doing their walks leader training through the Ramblers, please find details of the Health Walks programme here: 

https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/get-healthy/walking-for-health.aspx

and here:

https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/

We will release further details as we move forward but if anyone would like to get involved, please contact the club as we would be delighted to have your help and support.

Words: Jon Tait