Blackpool grassroots football team helping 2 players quit smoking for Mental Health Awareness Week
‘People around you who understand makes a real difference.’
A grassroots football team founded on the Fylde coast is using the power of sport and community to support two players as they quit smoking during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Strong FC, based in Blackpool, will take to the pitch at Gigg Lane in Bury on 16 May, with the fixture marking the quit date for two members of the squad. The players will be supported by teammates, established routines and the Smoke Free app as part of a wider effort to improve men’s health across the North West.
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The team will also debut new kits sponsored by Smoke Free, highlighting a partnership aimed at bringing stop smoking support into a community-focused environment built on shared experiences and encouragement.
James Dewhurst, Director of Strong FC and North West Operational Lead for a Community Smokefree Service, said: “This started as a place for men to come together and feel part of something. Over time, you see how much that matters, having somewhere to go, people to play with, a bit of structure to the week.”
“Quitting smoking is tough, but doing it in that environment, with people around you who understand, makes a real difference. That’s what this community is about.”
Improving mental health
Strong FC was founded on the Fylde Coast by James, who believed football could do more than entertain by helping to reduce isolation and improve mental health. The club grew out of Dare to Win, a project examining the realities faced by middle-aged men in Blackpool, before developing into weekly football sessions open to men aged 18 and over.
An 11-a-side team was later formed, and Strong FC is now FA accredited and part of a wider social inclusion league. The organisation has since expanded to include projects such as the Strong Ravens women’s netball team, with initiatives centred on lived experience and peer support.
The campaign and new kit have been shaped by local contributors, including Bolton designer John Atkinson, Embroidery Studio Blackpool and photographer Paul Keeling.
Smoking rates remain significantly higher among people living with mental health conditions, while men continue to be disproportionately affected by suicide rates in England. The 16 May match will bring together players, staff and the wider community in support of the two players beginning their quit-smoking journey.
Dr David Crane, CEO and Founder of Smoke Free, said: “We know smoking and mental health are closely linked, and support has to reflect the realities of people’s lives. Working with Strong FC is about meeting people where they are, in a space where they feel comfortable, supported and part of something.
“It’s about creating an environment where people can show up as themselves, connect with others, and take that first step towards quitting in a way that fits around their lives.”