Smart move on mental health

Officials at Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Witton Albion have signed up to a new programme to safeguard the mental health of their players and staff.

The Premier Division club announced on Wednesday that it was teaming up with the charity State of Mind. Since being established in 2011, the charity’s mental health and sport professionals have been helping to improve the mental health, wellbeing and working life of rugby league players and communities from the Super League to the amateur game.

At no cost, they also work with local colleges and community groups and Witton Albion are the first football club to sign up the programme thanks to their manager Brian Pritchard who is also passionate about rugby league. With the heightened awareness around mental health issues in football, he decided to invite the charity to the Help For Heroes Stadium later in January to deliver a session to the club’s players, management and other staff.