FORMER Northern Ireland star Keith Gillespie has revealed he felt compelled to join new football club FC Mindwell when he heard how the Mid-Ulster League outfit were the first in the country dedicated to helping people and players with mental health issues.
FC Mindwell will initially play their home games in the third division of the Mid-Ulster League at Holm Park in Armagh and along with ex-Manchester United and Newcastle star Gillespie there will be a host of former Irish League and Intermediate League players in the squad including ex-Cliftonville, Ballymena United and Glenavon forward Ciaran Feehan.
Co-founder of the club Brian Adair says that in time FC Mindwell would like to move to their own facility "which will not only be used for football but to offer counselling for those affected by mental health issues." There is also hope of a women's team to help women with mental health issues.
At yesterday's launch of the club at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast, Gillespie said: "When Brian told me the concept behind FC Mindwell I jumped on board because it is such a worthwhile vision and it really can help people with mental health issues. I have seen that already.
"In today's society mental health is one of the biggest issues around and forming a football club to bring people together and to offer strength to anyone that is struggling is a fantastic idea and one that I wanted to support."
FC Mindwell have already been training and played their first pre-season match on Saturday ahead of the start of the new Mid-Ulster League season, scheduled to begin later in the month.
Asked how he feels about playing that level of football given his heroics at Premier League, Champions League and international level, the 45-year-old winger : "It will be different to what I'm used to but we have a great set of lads at the club and we are looking forward to it."
FC Mindwell will be managed by David Dawson and ex-Liverpool and England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is a club ambassador.
The club, formed during lockdown when the coronavirus pandemic hit, plans to support and help its members, players and fans by offering resources and information enabling them to seek help or talk about any issues they may have. FC Mindwell will work in conjunction with the Links Counselling Service, a charity that provides therapeutic support to the community with the aim to prevent mental health illness from occurring in families and individuals by offering early intervention.
