‘We’re bringing people together’: when football meets therapy

Faces. A circle is formed. I look around. Faces. The people are largely strangers. I search the faces for a welcome, a sign of acceptance. I find it. The faces are different but they speak of strength and resilience without the burden of words.

There is the clack of studs on the floor as boots are put on. The pre-match talk is unusual. It speaks of fear and bravery. It mentions achievement and perceived failure. It talks of wounds beyond the recuperative skills of magic sponge or licensed physiotherapist. But there is healing. It can be felt. This is Time To Tackle on a Friday night in the dome outside St Mirren Stadium where two dozen people have gathered to share their experience without judgment. And to play a game of football.

Jared, Andrew, Lewis and Alex

The night is a game of two halves. The first comes in the dressing room where Aaron Connolly and his wife, Siobhán, stand at the entrance to the showers, greet everyone warmly and offer tea, coffee and biscuits. The night holds a deeply personal significance. They have lived the trials of struggling with mental health. Aaron was taken to hospital in 2019 after an attempt to take his own life. Siobhán has always been at his side.

“It was during that hospital stay, while reflecting on my life, seeking answers to the problems I faced, that I realised the importance football had played in keeping me safe for many years,” he says. The couple decided to try to make a difference. A five-a-side pitch was booked and Time to Tackle was born.

Founders Aaron Connolly & Siobhan

“Exercise is a powerful tool to help people cope with mental health issues but it was always our intention to create something a little different,” Aaron says. “We’re bringing people together to play