Crooklands football team spreads Andy's Man Club message

Crooklands Casuals FC wore shirts in support of Andy's Man Club before their game on Saturday - spreading the charity's message that it is 'okay to talk'.

Read more: 80 men present at first Andy's Man Club in Barrow | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)

They also shared a banner on the pitch and had leaflets and cards to hand out to spectators, turning a day out for locals into a chance to learn about the initiative.

A spokesperson from the football club said: "We were honoured to be supporting Andy's Man Club in Barrow, with all the players warming up in the charity's t-shirts.

"It's a fantastic initiative and the club are really happy to help spread the word."

Crooklands' dressing room on Saturday (Image: Crooklands Casuals FC)

The inaugural group in Barrow met for the first time in February this year providing men with a safe space to talk.

Read more: Andy's Man Club Barrow celebrates its first month | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)

The charity, which focuses on male suicide prevention, has peer support groups across the country.

The purpose of their work is to 'end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation'.

The charity is named after Andrew Roberts, who took his own life aged 23 in 2016.

Shortly after this, his mother and brother-in-law came up with the idea of a non-clinical support group for men to share their mental health under the moniker Andy's Man Club.

Having originated in Halifax in West Yorkshire, the club in Barrow was the 177th iteration of these groups when it formed earlier this year.

Sessions are run every Monday evening between 7pm and 9pm at Barrow AFC's The Cross Bar.

The first event saw 80 men walk through the door and, over the course of its first month in operation, organisers detailed how at least 40 men were coming weekly.

The hope is that, as more groups such as Crooklands Casuals share their message, more men will choose to open up.