Members of Sands United FC are in Market Street today (Saturday) ahead of their first game since forming in the summer.

The Ashby based club was set up to support supports men who have been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth. 

The Mayor of Ashby, Cllr Graham Allman, was also in Market Street to lend his backing to the club who have been raising fund and awareness of the what they represent and the work they are doing on Mental Heath Awareness Day.

Ashby Sands - part of a nationwide network of teams which is supported by Prince William - will play their first game at Hood Park tomorrow (Sunday, 2pm) when they take on Ethan United.

Moira-based Matt Buckley founded the Ashby club in June and says it has grown from there.

Matt told Ashby Nub News: "We've been raiding funds - but more so, also awareness.

"We're here for men who have been bereaved by the loss of a child, that's the main aim.

"We're letting people know that we're here - and we're playing our first tomorrow against another charity team, Ethan United, it's all about getting together for football and for their mental health.

"It's Mental Health Awareness today and men don't often get the opportunity to talk about their mental health.

"So do it though support, which is a huge thing, is fantastic.

"We've got about 25 guys in the club after about 14 since coming into existence, each of them have lost a child themselves or being closely involved in a child loss through a family member of friend.

"So the growth of the club and the support of the community has been tremendous.

"In terms of the football match, that's not what it's about for us. It'll be a great day."

Matt says this is also Baby Loss Awareness Week and, as part of that, he is doing his own personal challenge.

He added: "I'm doing 14 miles a day on an exercise bike for the seven days of Baby Loss Awareness Week. That represents 14 babies that are lost every day. They say one in four pregnancies don't come home.

'Myself and a friend of mine have raised over £500, someone else has raised £500 and we've been doing that at Fitness Republic in Ashby.

"We have a video on the Sands website of fathers holding up pictures of their deceased babies. There's a thing of people saying you shouldn't do it on social media, but to us that's our child.

"We should share that as much as anyone else shares a child.

"The big thing is breaking the silence, why shouldn't we? Because it might upset someone else?

"That's nothing compared to the upset we've been through."

Another Sands member Anthony Harrod-Jackson added: "There's no more 'man up and grow a pair'. Those are the most toxic words you can say to a guy. We don't want any of that.

"This his just people opening up as and when they want.

"There are people playing football with you who've been through the same thing.

"They're there for you if you need them. That's what this is all about.

"It's knowing people are there. We've all been though the mental health side of things and we all have our coping methods."

Matt added: "Two of the things that have come out of this is that you don't know how many people have been through it.

"And how many people you know - yet you didn't know they've been through it.

"We've had guys turn up who known each other for years, but didn't know the others had lost a baby."

Anthony added: "There also can be a bit of a stigma about miscarriage, nobody really talks about it.

"We're all in different stages. My wife's a midwife and she sees it every day, it destroys her."

Matt said: "But people don't know what to say, we've had people cross the street rather than to talk to us. You feel awful but they don't know what to say. I understand now, I wouldn't have known what to say."

Anthony said: "You have overwhelming grief and pain, but a desire to protect your wife or partner.

"It's very difficult when people don't know about it. All of us have a unique story."

Matt said: "I'm getting a lot of messages now thanking us for what we're doing. One guy said he's been in a dark place, now he says we've pulled him out of that and he's made friends for life."

Another Sands member Mike Wevill said: "I lost my child 13 years ago and I went into a dark place, now I've got involved with Sands and there's support for me."

Cllr Allman said: "This is obviously an excellent cause and one that's not very well known. It's something that's needed, if it only helps one person then it's worthwhile and something has been achieved. I hope they get a full bucket from their collection in Market Street."