For football clubs, managers & committee members
Men come to training when everything else in their life is going wrong. You already know that.
The bloke who's missed a few sessions. The one who's been quieter lately. The one making dark jokes about his situation that might not entirely be jokes. There is often something behind it — a separation, a custody battle, a court process that is grinding him down.
Men don't tend to ask for help easily. They especially don't tend to Google "family court support" or ring a helpline. But if someone at the club mentions it — in the right way, at the right moment — it can be the thing that actually lands.
Your club can be part of this. It doesn't take much.
Find a McKenzie FriendWhat is a McKenzie Friend?
A McKenzie Friend is someone who supports a person through family court — sitting beside them in the hearing, helping them understand their paperwork, and making sure they're prepared. They're not a solicitor. They don't give legal advice. But they know the process, and they'll be there on the day.
For men going through separation and custody battles, the family court process can be particularly isolating. The assumption is often that you can't afford proper support — and many men just go in unprepared and come out having had a worse outcome than they needed to.
A McKenzie Friend is not the same as a solicitor. But for a lot of men, it is the support they can actually access — and didn't know existed.
What a manager or teammate can say
"Have you looked into McKenzie Friends? They're not solicitors but they can actually come to court with you — help with all the documents, sit with you at the hearing. Costs a fraction of legal fees. There's a directory at familycourtbridge.org. Might be worth a look before your next hearing."
familycourtbridge.org/find-your-support
No expertise required. No awkward conversation. Just something practical and useful, mentioned by someone they already trust. For men who tend not to seek help, being told something useful by a teammate lands differently than anything they'd find online.
A poster in the clubhouse. A pinned post in the club group chat. A word from the manager at the start of the season that the club is here for more than football. Any of these can reach the right person.
Share this on your club's Facebook page
⚽ From [club name].
We want to share something that has nothing to do with football — but everything to do with what we're here for as a club.
A lot of men in our community are going through divorce, separation, or custody battles and dealing with it quietly. The family court process is hard to navigate alone, and a lot of blokes don't know where to turn or assume they can't afford any support.
Something worth knowing: McKenzie Friends are people who can attend family court hearings with you — help you prepare, understand your documents, and make sure you're not walking in alone. They're not solicitors, so the cost is far more manageable.
If anyone at the club is going through it right now, or knows someone who is — the directory is at familycourtbridge.org/find-your-support 💙
Share this. You might know exactly the right person.
Also works in a club WhatsApp or group chat — same post, no changes needed.
Why football clubs are part of this
The changing room is private
Men talk in changing rooms. Not always about the game. Separation, access to kids, a court date — it comes out. The team already knows. They just don't know what to do with it.
Football is already a support network
Men show up to training when they're falling apart because it's the one constant. The pitch, the banter, the routine. The club is already holding them. This just gives it one more tool.
Men share differently
Men don't tend to post about their problems or call helplines. But if a mate mentions something useful in the right moment, it travels. Your club can be that moment for someone.
Bridge the Gap — Further Reading