Football group offers addiction support

A new football group has been set up to help people struggling with addiction and mental health.

Charlie Barker, 32, set up the Addicted to Football group in Cambridge after going through his own addiction struggles.

Mr Barker, who has been sober for four years, said he wanted to provide a place for people with addiction to find support and still have a good time.

"It's a case of come for the football, stay for the chat," he said.

Mr Barker said he felt there was a need to create a supportive space outside of a clinical, indoor setting.

He said: "I struggled myself, previously, with mental health and addiction issues.

"I’ve overcome them luckily enough and there was a really hard struggle, a point where I never thought I’d be able to come out of it.

"I think [something like this] it would have helped me majorly when I was struggling."

Mr Barker said the group was a place for people to come without judgement, the only rules are that no drugs or alcohol can be brought to the free, weekly sessions.

He added: "Some people played football growing up, they left at 14 or 15 and went into addiction or life doesn’t go great for them, and that’s all they know.

"Until they have a kick-about again or meet new people battling the same battle and realise it’s not all about that. It’s about meeting new people and having fun.

"It’s such a good warm feeling to see people benefit from what we’re doing."

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