Mental Health Football

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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 menta

l 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.

"I loved Mental Health Football tonight and I didn't even play...I did get to chat, laugh, check-in with others and feel...
25/07/2025

"I loved Mental Health Football tonight and I didn't even play...

I did get to chat, laugh, check-in with others and feel like I was out with friends and family. We had 8 people watching and over 50 playing, with ages ranging from 4 to 73!

I appreciated some lovely moves and great goals, but especially enjoyed the support and encouragement the players gave each other."

Ross, MHF Volunteer

It's MHF Friday! 💚⚽Fancy a game of football tonight with no pressure or expectations? Play, or watch and have a chat wit...
25/07/2025

It's MHF Friday! 💚⚽

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.

7pm - 8pm on the outdoor 3G at Hathershaw College. Newcomers welcome.

We had 54 attendees join us on Friday to enjoy an hour of chat, laughs and football together 🧡 ⚽️
21/07/2025

We had 54 attendees join us on Friday to enjoy an hour of chat, laughs and football together 🧡 ⚽️

We had a talk tonight at MHF, as well as a few supersonic games of football in the sunshiiiiinnnne! 😎🌞We watched some sm...
11/07/2025

We had a talk tonight at MHF, as well as a few supersonic games of football in the sunshiiiiinnnne! 😎🌞

We watched some smashing shots against some wonderwall keepers and nobody looked back in anger. 🧡🎶

💚💚💚
08/07/2025

💚💚💚

Loved training these Mental Health Football legends as Mental Health First Aiders recently. It was a wonderful privilege to train with such a passionate, committed and engaged group of learners/volunteers.

With the skills and knowledge they’ve developed, they’ll be able to effectively support the attendees at MHF Oldham’s free football sessions every Friday…and make a genuine difference in their other communities.

Many thanks to Falcon Business Centre for kindly providing an excellent training room and splendid service.

"i’ve had a few weeks off, but coming back to MHF last night and playing after a stressful day really helped me. It mean...
05/07/2025

"i’ve had a few weeks off, but coming back to MHF last night and playing after a stressful day really helped me. It means I could approach the weekend in a better place." - Andy, MHF Co-Founder & Facilitator.

04/07/2025

We're extending the deadline for our Mental Health Community Awards!!

Many have already submitted but you now have until 12pm on Monday 7th July to submit.

We have three categories, ‘Education Staff Member’, ‘Workplace Colleague’ and ‘Member of the Public’.

Please nominate a teacher/colleague/family member/friend who has:
-Helped reduce stigma around mental health
- Raised money for mental health charities
- Made an individual impact on someone’s life
- Raised awareness of positive mental health and wellbeing strategies in an education setting/workplace
- Gone above and beyond to raise awareness of positive mental health and wellbeing

If you know someone who has achieved any of these then please complete the nomination form here:

https://tasfund.org.uk/events/

Winners will be notified and invited along to our 2025 Open Day on Saturday 12th July 11-3pm.

Each week, we try to make sure that every attendee leaves MHF in a better place than when they arrived. 💚Some good footb...
27/06/2025

Each week, we try to make sure that every attendee leaves MHF in a better place than when they arrived. 💚

Some good football on show, but more importantly, lots of fantastic support and encouragement from everyone in attendance.

We love MHF Fridays!'I want to thank everyone who has attended and volunteered for MHF the past year and half. Everyone ...
20/06/2025

We love MHF Fridays!

'I want to thank everyone who has attended and volunteered for MHF the past year and half.

Everyone has helped me through tough times and I’m happy I still feel welcome to this wonderful family’ - Jake, MHF Volunteer

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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.