Scoring goals for men’s mental health

The World Cup might be the event for 2026, but all eyes were recently on another beautiful game - the Carlisle United Community Sports Trust Men's Mental Health Awareness Tournament with United Utilities colleagues proudly taking part.

As our Cumbria armed forces network champion, and a construction manager working to improve water quality in our rivers, Matthew Bond got together a team and coached them to be match ready at Brunton Park.

Matthew talked us through the nail-biting tournament: “We played well throughout the tournament and started brightly with some free-flowing football with plenty of goals. As the event wore on tiredness took hold and we were delighted to finish in fourth place and securing a route to semis. The journey ended here as the team were beaten in the last second by a cruel deflection.”

The event was organised in collaboration with Silent Footprints and it was a special day to highlight and promote mental health provision in the Carlisle area.  Other teams taking part included Andy's Man Club, Carlisle United Supporters Trust and World Group.

Matthew added: “The tournament was a really positive and enjoyable experience bringing people together through football while promoting wellbeing, social connection, and the importance of mental health.

“Getting out on the pitch is fantastic for our mental health. Us men don’t like to talk about how we feel but this is a fantastic way to all get together, exercise and have fun.”

You might think it’s all over but the United Utilities team have more games planned raising money for Walking With The Wounded.