Mental Health Football

Home
United Kingdom
Oldham
Mental Health Football

Aiming to improve attendees mental health using football and peer support. Friday evenings, 7-8pm. OL8 3EP Newcomers from all backgrounds are welcome.

Mental Health Football (MHF) is held every Friday night on the outdoor 3G pitch from 7pm – 8pm at The Hathershaw College, Bellfield Avenue, Oldham OL8 3EP. The session is open to men and women of all ages and abilities. We have attendees who have never played football before, and others who’ve played previously and have missed being part of a team. The aim of MHF is to help improve attendees mental health using physical activity and peer support, in a friendly, easy going atmosphere. Mental Health Football is a pressure and judgement free environment where attendees can just turn up and play, or watch and have a chat with a great group of friendly, welcoming people. There are no expectations, no score-lines, no winners or losers, just players. No sign up or commitment is necessary. MHF was founded in 2019 by AFC Oldham's First Team Managers, Ross Elliott and Andy Steel. It went on to win ‘Initiative of the Year Award’ at the Oldham Sports Awards, followed by the runners-up spot at The North West Sports Awards. In August 2021 Manchester FA announced MHF as their ‘Grassroots Project of The Year Award’ winners. To help raise awareness and to have fun, the group enjoy the occasional friendly against similar initiatives and like-minded projects. In 2023, MHF proudly announced that six volunteers completed their training to become qualified Mental Health First Aiders. If you’d like to get involved with MHF as an attendee or volunteer, please send us a message at: mhfoldham@gmail.com or follow our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

23/12/2025

Each week, our attendees and volunteers select 'a champion of support, inclusion and the true spirit of MHF'. 🏆⚽🗣️

Friday's recipient of the Spirit of MHF Award was our volunteer, Tara.

MHF wouldn't work without people like Tara, she brings so much support, encouragement, fun and positivity to our sessions. Tara was nominated for checking-in with our attendees and being such a welcoming presence every Friday. 👏

20/12/2025

"Our final MHF of 2025 was a fun and supportive session, with some brilliant football played and some great conversations taking place.

It's been amazing seeing new connections and bonds develop over the course of the year.

Thank you to our volunteers, attendees, fundraisers and everyone who has supported our sessions in any way this year." - Ross

19/12/2025

It's MHF Christmas Jumper Day! 🎅⚽

Fancy a game of football tonight with no pressure or expectations? Play, or watch and have a chat with a great group of friendly, welcoming people.

7.30pm - 8.30pm on the outdoor 3G at Oldham Academy North. Christmas jumpers, hats etc. welcome! 🎄

15/12/2025

Each week, our attendees and volunteers select 'a champion of support, inclusion and the true spirit of MHF'. 🏆⚽🗣️

Friday's recipient of the Spirit of MHF Award was Feeney.

Feeney is one of the last to leave MHF every week, often staying back to check-in and support others. He's an unselfish teammate who keeps everyone involved in our sessions. He gives a great man hug too!👏

14/12/2025

What a way to start the weekend!

40 of us got together on Friday night for our weekly pressure and judgement free kickabout.

It's always great to see attendees, talking, supporting, laughing, scoring goals and encouraging each other.

12/12/2025

It's MHF Friday! 💚⚽

Fancy a game of non-judgemental football with no pressure or expectations? Play, or watch and have a chat with a group of friendly, welcoming people.

7.30pm-8.30pm at Oldham Academy North, Oldham OL2 5BF

09/12/2025

Each week, our attendees and volunteers select 'a champion of support, inclusion and the true spirit of MHF'. 🏆⚽🗣️

Friday's recipient of the Spirit of MHF Award was Mark.

There's lots of ways to support at our MHF sessions. Mark always puts others before himself and does his best to ensure that other attendees leave in a better place than when they arrived. 👏

08/12/2025

3 years since we introduced our first ever MHF shirt. 🧡

It's been worn with pride all around the world by our attendees / volunteers and in stadiums such as Boundary Park, Bloomfield Road, Gigg Lane, Spotland and DW Stadium.

Samaritans still have our back. 💚

INTRODUCING

Our first ever MHF kit!

Samaritans have got our back.

06/12/2025

Each week, our volunteers and attendees try to make sure that everyone leaves MHF in a better place than when they arrived. 💚

Last night, an hour of chatting, laughing, supporting and encouraging certainly helped. We played a little football too. ⚽

03/12/2025

After MHF on Friday, some of our attendees and volunteers will be going along to A Northern Social at The Mare & Foal in Failsworth.

Feel free to join us for a drink, a chat, and a listen to some ace musicians.

30/11/2025

Each week, our attendees and volunteers select 'a champion of support, inclusion and the true spirit of MHF'. 🏆⚽🗣️

Friday's recipient of the Spirit of MHF Award was Steph.

In short, Steph makes MHF better. She brings loads of positivity, fun and support to every session she attends. Well done Steph 👏

Address

The Hathershaw College, Bellfield Avenue
Oldham
OL83EP

Telephone

+447760175925

Website

https://afcoldham.co.uk/mhf/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mental Health Football posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Mental Health Football:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Oldham?

MHF - Our Story

MHF (Mental Health Football) is a weekly project providing free indoor football at Oldham Futsal Arena every Friday from 7pm - 8pm. The aim is to improve people’s mental health using physical activity, in a friendly, easy going atmosphere where fun and enjoyment are the focus – hence #FootballForFun!

Founded by AFC Oldham manager’s Ross Elliott and Andy Steel with initial support from AFC Oldham and Oldham Athletic Community Trust, MHF is pressure free, with no expectations, no judgement, no scoreline, no referees and no winners or losers. Men and women of all abilities are welcome to attend with no referrals needed and no singing up necessary, it is casual and you are free to come and go as you please.

The first session on Friday 9th January 2019 had 7 attendees and it’s grown from there, with players ages ranging from 18 - 64! Friendships have formed, bonds have been made, and some brilliant (and admittedly terrible) football has been played since, but the one thing guaranteed is fun.

(September 2019 update) MHF recently won the Community Initiative Award at 2019 Oldham Sports Awards.