A series of football tournaments are taking place in North Tyneside to help people with mental health issues and to raise awareness and funds for charity organisations in this field.
The tournament takes place on a monthly basis at Walker Dome and raises money for a different mental health charity every time.
Mark Dalglish, tournament organiser, said: “We started it to get all clubs together in a small league from all parts of the North East for mental health issues to come together for a big event.”
Mental health is something that is not tackled enough in football or even in sport in general. Professional footballers in recent times have confirmed mental health issues: ex Sunderland and Tottenham left back Danny Rose and Burnley winger Aaron Lennon have both been diagnosed with mental health issues in the past 15 months.
Daniel Marshall, a participant in the tournament, said: “This event has helped me a lot. It’s helped me gain the courage to go into work again, with the help of my team mates.
“I start my new life in November and have a new job in Holland in late November. I would not have been able grasp this opportunity without the help this group has given me.”
People like Daniel and Mark have shown a great amount of passion for this event since the event started in October of 2017 has grown from strength to strength with now as many as 80 people taking part in this event each month.
Giving people like Daniel a chance to gain the confidence to take their next steps in life and with the support of Mark to arrange these events.
The next event is the January 16 2019. To get involved call Walker Dome on 0191 2600506.