A GROUP of footballers have taken to Twitter to raise awareness of the struggles bereaved fathers experience.

The men, who are a part of Sands United FC Brighton and Hove, have been sharing their own bereavements in an attempt to help others.

The efforts come on International Bereaved Father’s Day which takes place on the last Sunday in August every year.

Kenney Wyatt, whose son Tommy died in 2013, said: “We had the devastating news that without the fluid surrounding Tommy in the womb his lungs wouldn’t develop as they needed to.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. I keep him close to my heart knowing he’s always with me.

“The first thing we saw was dandelion seeds floating away in the air and to this day that is what reminds me of Tommy.”

The football club is a part of a national network set up in support of the charity Sands which aims to bring bereaved dads together through sport.

The team allows fathers to join a team of men with similar experiences as their own. 

The Brighton club was founded in 2019 and has since grown to over 40 members.

The club is run in part by Andy Lindley who helped to found the team after the death of his son Dexter.

Andy said: “I've written, deleted and re-written the words to my story so many times now. And I guess that best describes how a bereaved father expresses how they're doing.

“I struggled after the distractions stopped when we lost Dexter. I couldn't express the grief, anger and depression I was going through.

“By taking some time to treat myself I've done more for my family than I could ever have done before.”

Anyone who wants to know more about Sands United can email Andy on sandsunitedbrighton@gmail.com.

Anyone experiencing emotional distress and struggling to cope can contact the Samaritans 24 hours a day seven days a week on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.