In the world of professional football, the spotlight usually shines on athletes' performances, trophies, and glory. However, a significant yet often overlooked aspect of this high-stakes environment is the mental health struggles that many players experience.

Former Reading FC striker Simon Church recently shared his personal battles after retiring, revealing how the competitive nature of football and the pressure to succeed can weigh heavily on players.

"Coming through the academy, there’s a lot of pressure on you, mainly pressure that you put on yourself— you want to do well for the club,” says Church.

He reflects on the intense scrutiny players face, especially with the rise of social media, which can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.

"There were plenty of times where I’ve come off the pitch, and I can’t help myself but I’ll look at the comments... it kills your confidence, it takes its toll."

Sadly, there remains a stigma around discussing mental health, particularly within the male-dominated culture of football. Church admits he often felt isolated during tough times, adding,

"In football, we don’t talk about it; I felt like I had to just get on with it, push it under the carpet."

Fortunately, the landscape is slowly changing. Initiatives such as the partnership between Reading FC and mental health charity Beder aim to create awareness and encourage conversation about mental well-being .

A Personal Mission

Razzak Mirjan, the founder of Beder, started the charity in memory of his brother, who tragically took his own life. Mirjan emphasizes that the worst day of his life brought him perspective.

“It makes you realize what’s important, and now it’s our chance to try and do good in his name,” he says.

Beder’s mission includes providing free online therapy to those 18 and older, already offering over 500 sessions since mid-2023. Mirjan believes that raising awareness through football is pivotal:

"Football is an amazing way to raise awareness and bring people together. It’s a tremendous opportunity for visibility, conversation, and action.”

Moving Forward

Church underscores the importance of these conversations, indicating that it wasn’t until after retirement that he was finally able to confront the issues he had sidelined for so long.

"I had to wait until I was 29, 30, to really deal with the situations that I’d brushed under the carpet,” he reveals.

He remains hopeful that initiatives like Beder will continue to shift the culture surrounding mental health in sports, stressing that encouraging openness will help players feel less isolated.

"The more people that are just opening up... that's gonna help hugely,” Church concludes.

As the conversation around mental health in football evolves, breaking the silence becomes a collective effort—one that will hopefully pave the way for a healthier, more supportive environment for both current and future players.