He’d stopped leaving the house, convinced he wasn’t enough for anyone – until a game of football changed everything
Ryan Formston (right), says he ‘hasn’t looked back’ after joining Wirral Football Therapy(Image: Supplied)
When Ray Ferguson first turned up at Wirral Football Therapy, he was “nervous as anything.” The 19-year-old from Birkenhead has been through more than many people his age.
“My dad’s an alcoholic, I was bullied through high school and got severe anxiety,” he says. “I didn’t go out before football. I felt useless and invisible – like I wasn’t enough for anyone. I always thought people were lying when they said nice things about me.”
Everything changed when he found Wirral Football Therapy, a free mental health initiative run by the Mersey Mind Project. The weekly sessions give local men the chance to play football, make friends and talk openly about what’s going on in their lives.
Ray would quickly discover there was no need to be nervous: “As soon as I’d met the lads and broken the ice a little, it was just normal. It was natural. We all got along really well.” He told the ECHO: “For me, [Football Therapy] kills two birds with one stone. I’ve always loved football and it helps with my mental health too.
“My confidence has grown so much since joining. From the first session it just felt like home.”
‘It’s genuinely changed my life’
For James Lawrence, 40, the sessions have been life-changing too. Originally from Manchester, he moved to the Wirral nine years ago with his wife and found himself isolated.
He explained: “I didn’t know anybody. I just dived head first into my career and didn’t really have an outlet for anything. When you move somewhere new and have no friends, you get into bad habits and end up keeping yourself to yourself.”
That changed when he met Chris Guy, co-founder of Wirral Football Therapy, while watching his son’s football team.
James said: “Chris told me to come down on a Monday night. I was a bit skittish because I’ve had so many injuries, but he said, ‘No, come on – it’s easy going.’
“It was incredible. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. To be really open and friendly with people I’d never met before, who’ve now become really good friends – through football – it’s amazing.
“Everybody’s there for one another. It’s genuinely changed my life. My wife can see it in me, my children can see it in me.”
James Lawrence(Image: Supplied)’I felt suicidal… now I haven’t looked back’
Ryan Formston, 25, from Birkenhead, says joining the group came at a turning point in his life.
He said: “I became a new parent in 2024 and that was a massive change. But in 2023 I’d felt suicidal after a long breakup – not necessarily because of the breakup, but because my life changed so suddenly. Getting up every day and trying to carry on was a lot to deal with.”
Then he saw a friend being interviewed about Wirral Football Therapy on ITV.
Ryan said: “I phoned him up and asked about it. Ever since then, I haven’t looked back.”
Now, he says, he feels like a different person. “I feel so much calmer in myself. You find comfort in being around other people who go through the same things as you. It’s nice to talk openly where there’s no judgement – people just understand.”
Tackling the stigma
Behind Wirral Football Therapy is a simple idea – that football can open the door to conversations that save lives.
With suicide still one of the biggest killers of men under 50, organisers say early intervention and social connection are crucial. What starts as a kickabout often becomes a friendship – or a lifeline.
Ray said: “There’s still this big stigma about ‘manning up’ and ‘men shouldn’t cry’. Mersey Mind is the opposite of that. Men can have feelings, men can cry, men can do whatever they need to get their feelings out. Even if you’re not the best at football, that’s not what matters – what matters is keeping yourself happy.”
Ray Ferguson (green bib) at Wirral Football Therapy(Image: Supplied)New drop-ins for men
The Mersey Mind Project is now expanding its work with new free Tuesday night drop-in sessions at The Sandbrook Centre in Moreton, starting October 14.
Running from 6.30pm to 8pm, the meet-ups are designed to be informal and welcoming, giving local men a safe, non-judgemental space to chat, connect and unwind. Alongside conversation, attendees can enjoy free refreshments, board games and more.
The charity will also continue to offer free football sessions in Prenton, walk-and-talks, group hikes and social events.
For Ray, James and Ryan, it all comes back to the same thing – turning up, having a laugh and remembering they’re not alone.
For more information, visit the Mersey Mind Project website.