Denny Warriors: Football team supporting men with mental health appeals for more clubs to join up

The club’s manager, Gary Thorn, hopes that the league will run across Scotland, and be specifically for teams of overweight men who want to improve their quality of life.

He has already enquired to register the league with the Scottish Amateur Football Association (SAFA) but has been advised that the league needs more teams before it can be officially recognised.

He said: “So far we have four teams interested in the new league for overweight men with mental health issues, but we need at least 10 to make it a possibility and to be recognised by SAFA.

"Everything is in place and I’ve written the league framework - all we need now is for more teams to join up.”

Gary created Denny Warriors FC in 2020 after moving from Glasgow with the aim of helping heavier players to get fitter, make friends and speak about any troubles they are having.

It quickly grew with it now having more than 40 members, and Gary had to draw up a reserve list for those who wished to join.

Gary, who said the that he himself is overweight and suffers from anxiety, is trying to remove some of the stigma that faces men who enjoy playing football but have lost their confidence.

"There can be quite a bit of stigma for guys who play football if they aren’t in perfect shape. A lot of our players suffer from body confidence issues so it’s great to see them back on the pitch after being away for so long.

"I started the club as a way to help myself after I moved here , I never knew anyone in the area and the team was a way for me to meet new like minded people and it has just snowballed from there.”

Denny Warriors FC train every Wednesday and Sunday at Stenhousemuir FC’s stadium, Ochilview Park.

For more information or if you would like to start a team, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/DennyWarriorsFC, or email: [email protected].

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