Hendon Football Club is relaunching their directory of fans offering to help those in need during England’s lockdown.
People experiencing mental health difficulties or in need of other support can get in touch with fellow fans who ‘can talk football for hours’ and are ‘happy to run errands’.
In line with the Government’s and Football Association’s rulings, Hendon Football Club have ceased all training and matches for the duration of the new national coronavirus restrictions. The restrictions are due to expire on 2 December.
‘Elite football’ can continue under the new restrictions, however Hendon FC plays in the seventh tier of the football division, known as the ‘Southern League’. This is below the cut-off for the ‘elite’ classification.
The club is described as ‘semi-professional’. Lu Lawrence, the main point of contact for the supporter directory, said that the players’ main jobs are outside of football.
https://twitter.com/HendonFC/status/1324289114410278916
The club treats helping those with mental health difficulties such as depression and loneliness as a high priority.
In normal circumstances, anyone going through a tough time can write to the Chairman, Simon Lawrence, and will be given a free ticket to the next match ‘no questions asked’.
However, the new measures mean that the free ticket scheme has to be paused until matches resume.
According to a report by the mental health charity Mind, ‘more than half of adults and over two thirds of young people’ experienced worsened mental health during the period of lockdown restrictions from early April to mid-May.
Speaking at a Downing Street coronavirus press conference on 5 November, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he knew “how frustrating” it is that grassroots football had been put on hold.
He added “if we work together on this package of measures… I have no doubt that we can make a real real impact” and allow people to play football again.