Mental health club sickened by y verbal abuse of women’s team
A FOOTBALL club set up to help players with their mental health are having issues with passers-by verbally abusing their women’s team.
Mind Over Matter FC is based out of the Bulls’ Head pub in Brampton and play on the playing fields opposite.
The club was set up by former Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers footballer Billy Whitehouse with the aim of becoming a major community club and also a charity working with the elderly.
But their women’s team, who play in the Sheffield and Hallamshire League, have faced resistance when training and playing games.
Chairman Richard Robinson said: “We have had gangs of teenagers verbally abusing the women’s team, saying misogynistic things like ‘women shouldn’t play football.’
“Another time, a man walking his dog just walked through their training session and, when I challenged him, he said the same about women not playing football.
“They are having to deal with it on a regular basis, unfortunately.
“One of the players’ partners has to go to the games and training sessions, and stop people climbing over the gates.
“It’s partly an archaic mindset but also there is an idea that we’re an outside influence who have come into the area, but the majority of our players are from Brampton.”
As well as the women’s team, Mind Over Matter have a men’s team in the
Mexborough Sunday League and an over 35 men’s team in the Wragg League.
Robinson said: “Where we’re aiming long-term is going to be huge.
“We want a clubhouse. We want a junior section.
“There is a lot of space there.
“We want to have an under 21s team to keep players playing after they stop playing youth football, which is where a lot of the mental health problems start.”
Mental health issues are at the centre of the club’s ethos.
Robinson said: “It’s creating a band of brothers who check in on each other.
“I grew up in Germany and didn’t know anyone when I came back to the UK.
“I don’t have life-long friends and I work from home.
“Without football I probably wouldn’t have a social life and would struggle massively with my mental life.
“We have a player from Kiveton who travels across.
“He’s ex-forces and suffers with PTSD. He says it’s the only time he can get out of his head.”
As well as football, the club put on yoga and boxercise classes for the community.
Robinson said: “We’re in the process of becoming a Community Interest Company.
“The long-term goal is to have employed staff working with the elderly in Brampton.”