Match of the Dads 2021

Mental Health Awareness Week -  Match of the Dads

Marketing & Communications
Match of the Dads are an FA affiliated 5-a-side football league for Dads in and around Norwich, playing at theFDC, Bowthorpe.

Mental Health Awareness Week – Match of the Dads

Match of the Dads are an FA affiliated 5-a-side football league for Dads in and around Norwich, playing at theFDC, Bowthorpe in Norwich on Monday evenings between 7:30pm and 9:30pm.

From starting out as 12 unhappy, unhealthy, socially frustrated Dads meeting up on a Monday night to have a kick about, it has grown to a group of over 100 Dads who play football and socialise every week, whilst also raising thousands of pounds for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) male mental health awareness and suicide prevention charity to help Dads and others in distress get the support they need.

Match of the Dads also provide support, help and advice to their members within their closed Facebook and Messenger groups too. This provides a safe space with plenty of like-minded Dads going through the same things, there's always help at hand no matter what you need.

Norfolk County FA recognised and rewarded the programme at the end of the 2018-19 season as they named it the Community Project of The Year in the FA Grassroots Football Awards. Watch the below video to find out more about the programme, the great work it does for Dads struggling with their physical and mental health, and why they were a worthy winner.

Founder and Lead Organiser of Match of the Dads, Paul Godfrey, said: “Match of the Dads started in April 2017 when 12 dads from in and around Norwich met up for a kickabout. Interest quickly grew and we officially started Match of the Dads soon after, also meaning we could start raising money for Campaign Against Living Miserably.

"Fast forward 4 years and we have 12 teams and over 100 players on our books. To date we have raised over £4,000 for CALM.”

If you are a Dad and like the look of what you've read or want to find out more about Match of the Dads please click here.