THE start of a new season is always a time of optimism and excitement in Scottish football.
Players and managers return to training after their summer break fully recovered from their exertions the previous term and in buoyant spirits. Supporters hope new signings will make an impact and the forthcoming campaign will be a successful one.
Yet, this period can also, as the staff at mental health charity Back Onside and footballers’ union PFA Scotland can testify, be particularly hard for those in the game in this country who are sidelined through injury, are without a club during the final days of the transfer window or are facing uncertain futures amid a challenging economic climate.
Back Onside, founded by Libby Emmerson back in 2018, work with people from all walks of life who are experiencing problems. However, they are particularly well-known for their connection with the football industry due to their close association with players and their use of the sport to raise awareness of the issues which they tackle in local communities.
Emmerson confirms there is a definite upturn in the number of footballers and coaches who contact them seeking advice and support at this time of year. “This period, along with December and January, is particularly busy,” she said. “Players and managers across all levels of football face similar concerns about contracts, injuries and other pressures.
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“Their worries often revolve around the uncertainty of their next club, the impact on their families, the arrival of new management, loss of employment due to the previous season's results, injuries if they are still rehabbing and financial stresses as well as the everyday worries that we all have.
“Currently, we offer professional counselling for those struggling with these worries, along with help and advice on life after football, CV writing and injury rehabilitation when it impacts mental health.
“We also provide support for partners who may be concerned about the future, among many other services. Every person who comes to us is different, so our approach to each is very bespoke, unique and tailored to their individual needs.
“These steps can significantly reduce the pressures and uncertainties faced by players as well as their families. We work tirelessly to try and make a difference to the people we work with and try and change the approach to mental health. In the six years Back Onside has been running we have supported over 500 players. But it is very difficult.”
“We had our talent showcase and exit trials at Broadwood back at the start of June,” he said. “That featured a lot of players who had come out of Premier League academies and were trying to find their feet as they transitioned from full-time to part-time contracts or get something else. But it also involved players of an older demographic. We had between 25 to 30 players there and quite a few have managed to land new clubs.
“It lasted five days and there was a focus on education. There were wellbeing workshops and there was a careers day which quite a lot of our business partners attended. There may be potential job opportunities down the line for some of the guys who attended that. There was definitely an emphasis on personal development.
“We offer any support our members need during this time. The most requests we need is for educational stuff, an Open University course, a trade, whatever. We find a lot of our members want to transition away from football and move into a different career while playing at a lower level.
“We are well aware of the mental health issues which our players may face. Some players need signposting and guidance when it comes to wellbeing. We work with Hampden Sports Clinic to help players recover from injuries and give them constant mental health support as well. We offer legal support for players who are between contracts and are maybe going through issues with their current of former clubs.
“Diane Scott is our player support officer and she is on hand to help with players mental health, anxiety and offer confidential support at any time. Her phone number and email address are on our website and the players know they can approach her with any personal issues they may have.”
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But Emmerson feels that clubs as well as governing bodies the SFA and SPFL can do far more to help what is, with an economic downturn putting increased pressure on chairmen and chief executive to cut costs and balance the books, a widespread problem in the Scottish game.
“I founded Back Onside after my own experiences with mental health struggles, which unfortunately led me to attempt to take my own life,” she said. “Thankfully, a friend who is also a professional footballer intervened just in time, making me acutely aware of the need for mental health support among players.
“He explained he was experiencing similar feelings and how he knew of several other players who were in the same position, but were too ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help within their clubs due to the fear of being judged or isolated. This experience has been a driving force behind our focus on supporting football at all levels as well as many other sports and the general public.”
Emmerson added: “We do see an increase in the number of players, managers and back room staff reaching out for advice and support at this time of year.
“We believe clubs and governing bodies can better support players by introducing comprehensive education programs for life after football, offering access to financial advisors and encouraging work insurance.
“Furthermore, ensuring readily available mental health support and establishing holistic support systems that include regular mental health check-ins in a safe and confidential environment for expressing concerns would be highly beneficial.”
