Following on from last month’s announcement of the ‘Mentally Healthy Football’ Declaration and the recent Heads Up FA Cup Final, Brentford FC would like to highlight the great work that has been going on since the start of the lockdown to try and help male fans talk about mental health. Brentford FC and its Community Sports Trust have been running an online talk club since March, aimed at Brentford fans and local male residents. The group, with more than 20 members provides a safe hub for men to talk and support each other. This has particularly been important during the last three months with current restrictions on movement and increased isolation.

Niaz Fiaz said “Brentford Talk Club meetings have been really helpful, particularly when I have had problems recently. Talking therapy like this really helps and needs to be more readily available to others”

The “Talk Club Brentford” has held virtual meetings nearly every Monday since April with members logging into the meetings from home. The group is now looking to move to face to face meetings in Brentford with specific social distancing rules in place.

The group will still be administered through its Facebook page, here, but new members will also be able to join the meetings by emailing their details to Graham Goodden [email protected]. The first face to face meeting to take place will be next Monday, 17 August, at 6pm in Syon Park, TW8 8JF (meeting point outside the Hilton Hotel Entrance). The meeting will be a walk and talk with the group ending up at The London Apprentice (pub) TW7 6BG for members to carry on if they wish to do so.

It would be great to see some new members and have a good turnout for the first face to face meeting. If you cannot make the meeting please still get in touch so the group can look to accommodate you at another time/date.