Last Friday, ahead of World Mental Health Day, Swindon Town FC Assistant Manager Noël Hunt, and players Anthony Grant, Joel Grant, and Zeki Fryers all joined the STFC Community Foundation Super Robins (Mental Health Team) at Foundation Park.

Our Mental Health project started in its current format four years ago and is made up of players who all live with different mental health challenges. The project is supported by the Foundation’s main Social Inclusion Sponsors, Holiday Inn Express Swindon City Centre and Embassy of Man. Earlier this year, the players were given the opportunity to choose their own team name and decided on ​‘The Super Robins’, and a new badge was designed to give them their own identity, away from the Mental Health stigma. 

After the Super Robins weekly training session on the 4G pitch, they were joined by the players, who brought along the league two trophy. The players answered questions, and shared their own personal experiences regarding mental health, touching on the importance of staying away from alcohol, and the potential mental-health difficulties that footballers may face in their careers. The Super Robins were then given the opportunity to have their photo taken with the players and the League Two silverware.

One of the Super Robins shared his story: ​“Lockdown was really tough, I spent a lot of time at home — I have two children and one has autism, so with his special needs and my depression, anxiety, and stress as well, it was difficult. I hit a proper all-time low, and was thinking about ending things again.

“I got in contact with Swindon MIND and they told me the Foundation’s football sessions were starting back up, so I came along. It’s good to see faces that I recognise, it helped me integrate back into society a bit after being home all that time and not speaking to anybody. It’s just good to get back, and get some energy, and everything flowing through the bones. it’s just good to get back, you know. I’ve been back every week since, and I’m feeling a lot better for it.”

Swindon Town FC’s Zeki Fryers said: ​“It’s important to make sure that everyone, in football and in every-day life, is educated and knows that there is support out there, so if you ever do have these problems you can deal with them. There is that support network out there, and that’s the main thing.”

For more information on STFC Community Foundation’s Super Robins programme, contact Phil on (01793) 421303.

You can visit resources such as mind​.co​.uk anytime or men​tal​health​.org​.uk for advice on Mental Wellness, and if you feel like you need to speak to someone right away, call Swindon Intensive Services on 01793 836 820 or the Samaritans on 116 123.