The league of extra large gentlemen
Football club wins by helping players tackle weight and mental health issues
They may be large but this team of footballers are in a league of their own and helping to change the face and pace of Scottish football.
By their own admission, they wouldn’t always be the first to be picked for their village football team.
Nor would they have been able to test their skills during a friendly knock about in the local park when they first joined the squad.
To qualify for the team, all players must have a waist of 38in and body mass indexes which are overweight or obese. The main goal is a focus on getting fit and caring for their mental health. Team manager Craig Small, 37, said: “Some have gone from being barely able to play more than five minutes’ football to holding their own in an entire 90-minute game.”
The plant maintenance engineer, from Dundee, says it has been a lifesaver for him. A debilitating episode of depression drained him of his happiness and his weight spiralled.
He attempted to take his own life and was brought back from the brink in A&E four years ago.
“Our team, Dundee Discovery FC, has been a lifesaver for me and an emotional boost for others in the team,” he said. “Some guys joined just to get fitter and lose weight and others were also burdened by low moods.
“The team spirit is tremendous and the friendship immensely valuable. We have a pool of 30 great guys.
“I have been manager for over a year, but I cannot stress how important every one of the team members, the committee and others has been in making us a success.”
He added that they offload anxieties and stress through camaraderie. He said: “Just being there and having a good direction to go in during the week is enough for some.”
Suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 50 in Scotland and the rest of the UK, more so than in women. The reasons are complex but include males being told from childhood to “man up” and not admit weakness or upset. Women are more likely to speak to others about their problems.
The British Medical Journal reports that physical activity is highly beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety and distress in adults. Research gathered from 41 studies with 2,264 participants demonstrated large benefits, including improving mood and mental health from exercise. The British Heart Foundation says aerobic exercise, where you move in a way that makes you warm and slightly out of breath, including walking, cycling, playing football, doing housework or gardening, all help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and improve resting heart rate.
Dundee Discovery FC says its goal is to provide a safe, positive space and a non-judgmental and welcoming environment,
Small said: “It allows players to feel good, both mentally and physically, by playing football in a weekly, structured seven-a-side league.”
Off the back of this, there is the poten - tial to join an 11-a-side team.
Now up and running, the team will take part in the Warrior Premier League across Scotland next season.
Small said: “Interest from guys looking to join and play has been unbelievable, and we are well on our way to being full capacity and having a waiting list for both parts of the club.
“We are already looking to expand and accommodate even more guys.” The team members come from Dundee and travel from Perth and Arbroath. Wednesday night training can be up to a pool of 50. Small said: “It might only be a couple of hours out of your week, but what a boost.
“Any fears that you won’t be as quick as the other guys on the pitch are soon lost when you begin training and get on the park.
“We don’t do labels like overweight because they can be damaging, instead we focus on being a team and always being there for each other. My mantra is: if you are not fit, you are not going to get any fitter sitting around the house.” Player Nick Dennison joined after he
watched his children play football but felt too big to join them.
He had trained with Dundee FC as a promising youngster and was picked for select teams but hit the emotional depths as a teenager after he watched his gran die.
He said: “It had a profound effect on me and I fell out of love with football, stopped attending school and was diagnosed with depression. That’s when my footballing career ended.”
His route back to playing came when a team member asked him to join. He admitted: “I told him I was too unfit but he persuaded me to have a look. “That’s when he explained that the whole purpose of the team was made for people like me who struggle with their weight.
“I agreed to come along and see the next game. By the end of the training session, I thought this was exactly what I had been looking for.
“Craig asked me to join and every training session and game have been brilliant.”
His training skills from his youth in football have proved invaluable for the rest of the team.
He said: “I put on a session and all the boys worked hard and received it well. Their appreciations and feedback were encouraging.
“The positive feedback has allowed me to tweak it, making training even better.
“It has been a brilliant return to football for me.
“I am now considering a career in coaching, and I also enjoy playing football with my children now.
That’s a result for any dad!” Dundee Discovery players come play from all backgrounds – there are even two who are currently training in mental health nursing.
Small reckons the variety is a winning combination. He said: “Every one of us brings something valuable to games and training sessions.
“I have landed lucky with a great bunch of guys who have kept me steady. “The goal will always be that I want it to be there for other people.” On Sunday August 6, Dundee Discovery FC will be hosting an eightteam tournament with competitors from all over Scotland, affiliated with the Appin Warrior Premier League. It will be landmark in football and mental health for men.