ANDYSMANCLUB visit Accrington Stanley to raise awareness of men's mental health

National men’s mental health charity ANDYSMANCLUB paid a special visit to Accrington Stanley’s Wham Stadium on Thursday 5th February, as they attended the club’s home fixture against Salford City.

Members of the ANDYSMANCLUB team were present on the night, including Head of Partnerships Lucas Whitehead and Area Lead for Greater Manchester and Lancashire, Chris Kelly.

The visit formed part of the charity’s ongoing work to raise awareness of men’s mental health and encourage open, honest conversations around the challenges men face in their everyday lives.

Lucas and Chris delivered a special talk in the 1968 Lounge to supporters enjoying matchday hospitality.

During the session, they introduced ANDYSMANCLUB and highlighted the vital role the charity plays in male suicide prevention, encouraging men to open up, talk about their mental health and share what they are going through in life.

Founded in 2016, ANDYSMANCLUB was created in response to the stark reality that suicide remains the biggest killer of men under the age of 54 in the UK. What began with just nine people meeting in Halifax has since grown into a nationwide movement, with groups now operating in more than 330 locations across the country.

The charity’s free-to-attend sessions run every Monday at 7pm, excluding Bank Holidays, and currently see over 30 men attending weekly in both Blackburn and Burnley, with plans in place to launch a group in Accrington.

In addition to the hospitality talk, members of the ANDYSMANCLUB team were also present in Coley’s throughout the evening, speaking with supporters and sharing information about how men can access support.

Warren Eastman, Accrington Stanley chief executive, said: “It was great to have the ANDYSMANCLUB team with us at the Wham Stadium. The work they do is incredibly important and it was fantastic to be able to share that message with our fans.”

Head of Partnerships at ANDYSMANCLUB Lucas Whitehead said: “What a fantastic night at Accrington Stanley. What a goal from Alex Henderson, beating Salford 1-0. It has been a fantastic welcome, we have had some really positive conversations already and stay tuned, there’s plenty more to come.”

The visit underlined Accrington Stanley’s continued commitment to supporting mental health initiatives and using the power of football to help make a positive difference within the local community.

To learn more about ANDYSMANCLUB and the support they offer, visit www.andysmanclub.co.uk