Glentoran footballers swapped their boots for shovels on Tuesday morning to help out with a special community project at Connswater Community Centre.
Manager Mick McDermott and first team players including Marcus Kane, Rory Donnelly and Patrick McClean helped lay sods of grass at an initiative being run by Survivors of Suicide.
The new community garden aims to provide a quiet space for reflection and relaxing and remembering loved ones lost to suicide.
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Glens boss McDermott told Belfast Live: "This is one of the things the club has made a commitment to do over the past few years, which is engage with the community and help out.
"A lot of it goes unseen which is the right way. We don't do it for publicity, we do it because it is the right thing to do.
"As our new chairman said, we not only strive to be the best team on the pitch, but we also strive to be the best off it, too.
"That involves the business and commercial side of things, and also the community aspect.
"The boys had Sunday and Monday off for the Queen's funeral and they would usually be in training twice today. But we thought this would be a good opportunity to help with the community garden here.
"The charity is desperate to get it finished, and the sods of grass have been sitting on pallets for a few days. If they don't get it down ASAP the grass will die, so it was important to get it down today.
"It is a sunny day, we are 400 yards from the Oval and we hope to get it finished today."
McDermott added: "It is a garden of reflection.
"We have all been impacted by suicide at some stage of our lives, whether it be personally or friends. And it is something that everyone will face at some stage.
"We are delighted to just give a hand, and that's all we are doing. Usually we would be in the gym this morning, so we thought this would be a good idea to come down and help.
"We want to pay a wee bit back to the community that comes and watches us play."
Survivors of Suicide is a support group which helps those who have been bereaved or affected by suicide, with referrals for the most appropriate support and raising awareness.
Defender McClean said it was important for Glentoran's players to "give something back" to the community.
He said: "The club is always doing things like this, whether it is two or three of us or it's the whole team.
"We enjoy working with the community and it is good to give something back. It is important to do these things, and it is like a bonding session for the players.
"We all enjoy doing it."
Goalkeeper Aaron McCarey also said: "It is a great idea and it is always good giving something back to the community.
"Especially this project which probably touches a lot of people. So it is nice to come down and muck in with the lads.
"It is something different and it brings the lads closer together as well. And we are doing something good.
"There might be a few sore backs tomorrow, but you will notice the boys who don't have much dirt on them. They have been slacking off too much."
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