Imagine Your Goals Update:
Many of the IYG Clubs have promoted Imagine Your Goals and Time to Change in their
match day programme and websites, supporting the campaign: “It’s Time to Talk”, using
various media mechanisms.
To highlight the positive work that has taken place in the first 12 months of the Manchester
United programme, three IYG teams from United, Southampton and Bolton Wanderers took
part in a round-robin tournament at the Cliff Training Ground in Salford. Manchester United
first team players Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans spent the afternoon meeting the players,
taking part in a ‘hardest shot’ competition and engaging in a Q and A discussion, talking
openly about mental health:
“People see the good things about our job, but you feel do feel alone sometimes and it’s
important to have good family and friends around you to support you,” said Jonny Evans. His
teammate, Darren Fletcher spoke of his experience during a long-term injury lay-off:
“It’s not easy when your injured and sat at home watching your teammates play and it
sometimes does get you down and you can get depressed about it. Sometimes, just because
people see us playing in front of 70,000 fans we are labelled so called ‘superstars’, but we’re
human beings like everyone else at the end of the day and we have to tackle these issues as
well.”
Bolton were the tournament winners, but, as project manager Stephen Hoy explained, the
real winners on the day were all the participants who are using the project to help overcome
their own personal issues, enabling them to line up to face battle on the day:
“It was brilliant because everyone enjoyed themselves and played competitively but it was
played in the right spirit; they came to enjoy the day and not just win the tournament.” The
Manchester United Foundation coach added, “The mental health problems the participants
suffer from vary tremendously……yet they all supported each other and worked as a team.”
Lee Fearnough used to work as a steward at Old Trafford and is now a member of the
Manchester United Imagine Your Goals team. He has recently overcome bipolar disorder
and commented that it is reassuring to hear that the players also have to deal with their own
issues: “Sometimes you just see them as being famous and don’t realise that they go through
the same things as other people so it helps to know that they understand.”
Lee has found the IYG course has improved his confidence and helped him to emerge from
his disorder with a more positive outlook on life. He added, “Events like this give you a boost
and make you realise you’re not on your own. Sometimes you don’t have anyone to talk to
when you have problems so it’s nice to do something that brings people together.”
Steve Hoy concluded: “The overriding message for people suffering from mental health
issues is to seek help. If, for one second, you feel that you can’t cope then place a call into
your GP and tell someone. The ‘Macho man’ image can really stop men from seeking the
help they need but the worst thing you can do is contain it and keep it to yourself.”
Arsenal Imagine Your Goals teamed up with its counterparts at Stoke City ahead of their
Premier League clash to celebrate World Mental Health Day with a game at Arsenal’s
Bergkamp-Cruyff pitch in Archway, north London.
Jason Kelvin, Arsenal in the Community Mental Health Project Officer, commented: “We
were delighted that our friends at Stoke City were able to accept our invitation to come down
to London and celebrate World Mental Health Day with us. Football is a powerful way of
engaging people suffering from mental health issues, so days like this are a great opportunity
for our service users to improve their physical wellbeing and meet other individuals with
similar experiences.”
Paul Salvatore, Senior Community Coach for the Stoke City Community Programme, added:
“We’d like to extend our thanks to Arsenal in the Community for what was a thoroughly
enjoyable day for our programme users, not to mention our staff! Days like this are really
special and to get the chance to go behind-the-scenes at Emirates Stadium was a real
highlight for everyone.”
After the exertions on the pitch were over, the group was treated to a complementary lunch
and tour of Emirates Stadium with Arsenal in the Community coaches.