United back game’s vital Declaration

TONY CUNNINGHAM

RAMSBOTTOM

UNITED has welcomed a joint Declaration from the UK football family signifying its support for building a mentally healthy environment at every level of the game, as a lasting legacy of the Heads Up campaign.

The Rams have long championed mental health awareness, supporting the season-long Heads Up campaign and other initiatives.

The Mentally

Healthy Football Declaration will see all of UK football recognising that mental health is as important as physical health, and pioneering a ‘team approach’ on this important issue.

The UK football family will build on the important work that clubs and football organisations are already doing, working together to roll out these efforts across the football system, share best practice, and support the development of ‘mentally healthy clubs’ at every level of the game.

The landmark Declaration has been signed by senior figures from across the football system, including the FA, the Premier League, the English Football League (EFL), Scottish FA, Wales FA, Irish FA, League Managers Association (LMA), Professional Footballers

Association (PFA), Professional Game Match Officials

Limited (PGMOL) and League Football Education (LFE).

Following an unprecedented season for football, mental health issues are more relevant than ever. Through the Declaration, football has committed to working together to embed an environment across all of UK football:

WHERE players and staff are encouraged to look after their mental health just as they look after their physical health;

WHERE they feel able to spot the signs that they, a team-mate or colleague might be struggling and know where to access support;

AND where speaking out about mental health is seen as a sign of strength rather than weakness.

The Declaration will see us form a UK-wide mental health implementation group next season, working towards a collective ‘game plan’ for the first time to ensure the mental health of players, staff, managers, coaches and officials is prioritised across the game.

A spokesman of the club stated that Ramsbottom United is fully supportive of this initiative, especially in these trying conditions.

The Declaration has also been welcomed by Heads Up’s charity partners Mind, CALM and Sporting Chance, who will work with us all next season to take the Declaration forward.

You can find out more about the Heads Up campaign by visiting www. headstogether.org.uk/ heads-up

THE Coral Challenge Cup’s sixth round will be redrawn after the withdrawal of six clubs, the Rugby Football League has announced.

Toronto Wolfpack and five Championship and League One clubs have all pulled out of their scheduled last-16 ties, leaving 10 Super League clubs in the competition - including Salford Red Devils and Wigan Warriors.

An RFL statement said: “The 2020 Coral Challenge Cup has been reshaped because of the unique set of circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic - with the 10 Super League clubs remaining in the competition to be included in a redraw for the sixth round and the quarter-finals.

“Having considered all the options, and having received the support of the BBC and Coral, the RFL Board decided that a redraw of the sixth round is the best and fairest way of proceeding.”