A football club that has brought Dads who have lost their children together has received awards this weekend for keeping football positive.
Angels United FC have been bringing Salford parents together who have experienced child loss since 2020.
Over the past four seasons they have been working across Salford and Greater Manchester, and have been able to win Manchester FA Keeping Football Positive Award.
The award that was won on Friday 15 November, were able to win the award for their work as a football club.
With co-founders Olly Monk and Wayne Williams being announced as runners up in their own respective categories.
Following the awards night, Olly Monk stated: “The awards aren’t for us they are for every angel that our shirt represents and for every parent that has been through the heartbreak of losing a baby or child.
“There’s no cure for grief what might work for me might not work for another lad but there’s never any pressure for anyone to talk you can just come down for a good laugh.”
The club itself was founded in 2020 by 13 men who all experienced baby or child loss, and although they started during the pandemic they were still able to hold weekly meetups where so many dads have come together.
And it seems that the club has been able to share a positive outcome, as since its formation they have seen over 100 dads coming down for a kick about.
Throughout its four year stint as a club, it has often been described as bittersweet, helping many fathers deal with grief and form friendships with people who understand what it is like to experience child loss.
As Olly continued: “Angels is so important because you are representing your baby and representing your child, just for them to be looking down at you laughing for trying to play football.”
Olly’s attachment to the club began when he and his wife sadly lost their two daughters Poppy and Dottie in 2019, but has made sure he continues their legacy through the club.
And has been able to receive support from the football club, playing for the club through the pain to focus on something in celebration of his daughters.
As he added: “I was a bloke holding his emotions inside, I didn’t want to talk about it, I was just so focused on playing football – it’s what got me through the day”.
Olly has made such special memories with Angels United FC and said he will always remember when they played a tournament on Poppy and Dottie’s birthday, where he eventually got a trophy at the end of it.
The work of Angel United has been significant, as mental health has been a widely reportedly struggle for men to talk about.
Throughout the month of November, a lot of effort is made to encourage men to speak up and share support with one another.
And with NHS statistics sharing that 12.5% of men in the UK have a mental health disorder, and that men are three times more likely to commit suicide then women.
These statistics further emphasie the vital work and support that Angels United FC offer to those who are grieving in anyway.
As Olly continued: “When you are going through a dark place, having a laugh with one of the lads is such a simple thing but is so important for so many people.”
Angels United FC want to reach as many people as they can, and let them know whenever they feel comfortable they can come down for a laugh or any form of support.
Next year they will begin running coffee mornings also, that will welcome anybody who has experienced baby loss or child loss.
“If you want to laugh, laugh, if you want to cry, cry, if you want to hug your mate, hug your mate – there’s no pressure,” Olly added.
If you would like to support Angels United FC you can do so through their Just Giving Page, and you can find out more information on Angels United Here.
Recent Comments