A football group set up in Stoke-on-Trent to bring people together and foster positive mental health will be playing a charity match at the Bet365 stadium later this month.

Headspace FC CIC, which was set up by brothers Kenny Bartonshaw and Cliff Barton in 2024, have organised a match on 24 May to raise awareness and funds to support mental health across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

The money raised from ticket sales – which are £4 for adults and free for children – and the prize draw will be split between Headspace FC, Man Time and Mind North Staffs.

Kenny said: "The money that we're raising will support us so we can keep running our sessions."

He added: "Everything we do is off our own back because we're completely voluntary."

When Headspace FC became a Community Interest Company (CIC) in June 2025 they received 12-months of funding from Sports England.

As this funding comes to an end, the non-profit hopes that the chairty match will help them to continue running football sessions, social nights and parent and child events.

The teams consist of 36 eager members of Headspace FC who are excited to be playing on the Bet365 pitch.

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Kenny said: "I think for a lot of them it's their first ever time they've played on the stadium pitch.

"For one or two of them, it's their first ever game of full 11 a side football ever and for others it's the first time they've played an 11 a side game for 15 or 20 years.

"There's a lot of excitement. A lot of apprehension, but there's been a nice buzz around it as well."

Headspace is raising money through tickets and a prize draw (images via Headspace FC CIC)

Headspace, which started as a kickabout group for eight friends, now runs three sessions each week at The Kings C.E. Academy in Kidsgrove, Co-op Florence MacWilliams Academy in Meir and Powerleague Trentham Lakes for around 230 members.

The groups are open to all abilities with members aged from 18 to over 60 from Staffordshire as well as Derbyshire and Cheshire.

Kenny said: "We've got some of the lads in the group who've never played before, but they have joined and because it's casual and there's no pressure in the games.

"They'll come and play, then they open up about the mental health side as well."

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He added: "It's that kind of camaraderie you get from football as well. There is the banter you get between each other.

"We've got a WhatsApp group where we organise everything and people talk in there about different things in life as well as football.

"You haven't got to come to a door and sit down, because some of the lads in the group have been to them sort of things and find it really hard."

Headspace FC weekly sessions are held on Tuesday 8-9pm at The Kings CE Academy, Kidsgrove; Thursday 7.45-8.45pm at Co-op Florence MacWilliams Academy, Meir and Sunday 8-9pm at Powerleague Trentham Lakes.

To book tickets, visit the website here or find out more about Headspace FC CIC here.