Key Takeaways
- Forget-Me-Knot FC, a soccer club for fathers who have lost a baby or child, launched in September 2025 in Stoke-on-Trent, England, and has grown from 6 members to nearly 40
- The club was founded by Sean Coleman with support from Royal Stoke University Hospital, the UHNM NHS Trust, and the Port Vale Foundation
- Sessions combine structured peer support (“pits and peaks” check-ins) with recreational soccer every other Monday evening
- The group plans to expand nationally and play matches against other bereavement-focused teams across the U.K.
- Forget-Me-Knot FC also organizes social activities outside of soccer, including meals and game nights, to keep members connected between sessions
A Father’s Loss Becomes a Community Model
When Sean Coleman lost his baby, the grief was compounded by something many fathers describe but few programs address: isolation. In September 2025, Coleman launched Forget-Me-Knot FC in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, England, with a straightforward premise. Bring together dads who have experienced the loss of a baby or child, give them a space to talk, and let them play soccer.
Six dads showed up to the first session. Within six months, the group has grown to nearly 40 members.
“Losing a child can be incredibly isolating, and many men find it difficult to talk openly about their grief,” said Aaron Way, a member who lost his daughter Willow last August. “The idea behind the club was simple: to create a safe space where men could come together, talk honestly, and play football.”
The club was established with institutional backing from Royal Stoke University Hospital, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), and the Port Vale Foundation, which provides the venue in Burslem, England, for biweekly sessions.
Structured Support Before Kickoff
What distinguishes Forget-Me-Knot FC from a typical recreational league is its format. Each session opens with a group exercise the members call “pits and peaks.” Everyone sits together and shares how their week has been, whether that involves something difficult or something positive. The check-in is designed to normalize open conversation about grief without pressure.
“It’s a safe space where people can speak openly without feeling judged,” Way said. “After that, we head onto the pitch for a relaxed game of football. The focus isn’t competition. It’s connection.”
That structure, combining peer support with physical activity, reflects a growing body of practice in the U.K. around men’s mental health programming. Organizations like the Port Vale Foundation, which operates community outreach through the professional soccer club Port Vale FC, have increasingly partnered with NHS trusts and charities to deliver programs that meet men where they already are: on the pitch.
Building Community Beyond the Field
Forget-Me-Knot FC’s activity extends well past Monday night sessions. Members organize social outings throughout the month, including group meals, snooker nights, and pool nights. The goal is to ensure that fathers who cannot attend regular sessions, whether due to schedule, distance, or physical limitations, still feel included.
“We aim to make sure everyone feels included, even if they’re unable to play football or attend the regular sessions,” Way said.
The club also participates in community events and raises awareness about baby loss. Members have found that the shared experience of child loss creates a foundation of trust that accelerates connection in ways that general men’s groups may not.
“At Forget-Me-Knot FC, everyone understands that loss,” Way said. “That shared experience creates a strong sense of trust and openness. Football also plays a big role, giving people a healthy way to release stress, reconnect with others, and find moments of normality again while still honouring the memories of their children.”
Growth Through Word of Mouth and Local Networks
The club’s growth from 6 to nearly 40 members has been driven largely by organic channels. Many early members found the group through the UHNM Charity bereavement team or local support networks. As members began sharing their experiences, awareness spread through the community and social media.
Way noted that the recognition the group has received was never part of the plan.
“The goal was never about being recognized. It was simply about supporting dads through the incredibly difficult journey of losing a baby or child,” he said. “However, the attention it has received has been encouraging because it helps open up conversations about grief, especially for fathers. If that recognition helps even one person feel able to reach out for support, then it’s worthwhile.”
National Expansion and Cross-Team Play on the Horizon
Forget-Me-Knot FC’s leadership has outlined two primary goals for its next phase: expanding the model to other communities across the U.K. and building partnerships with organizations that support bereaved families. The group also hopes to arrange matches against other teams created for similar purposes, connecting bereaved fathers through competitive play.
For youth sports operators and community sports foundations in the U.S. and abroad, the Forget-Me-Knot FC model offers a case study in how recreational sports infrastructure can serve a mental health function. The ingredients are relatively simple: a venue partner, an institutional referral pathway (in this case, the hospital bereavement team), and a structured format that pairs peer conversation with low-pressure physical activity.
Why This Matters for Youth Sports Communities
The youth sports ecosystem touches millions of families, and loss is an unavoidable part of that landscape. Programs like Forget-Me-Knot FC demonstrate that clubs and foundations already embedded in local sports communities are uniquely positioned to support parents in crisis, not through clinical intervention, but through the familiar framework of showing up, talking, and playing.
Way’s message to other grieving parents is direct.
“Grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and everyone processes it differently. Talking to others who truly understand, whether through a support group, a community, or a team like ours, can make a huge difference. It’s okay to ask for help, and it’s okay to take things one day at a time.”
Source: PEOPLE, Georgia Slater, March 18, 2026
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A U.K. soccer club for fathers who have lost a baby or child grows from 6 to nearly 40 members in six months, combining peer grief support with recreational play every other Monday.
Photo: The Forget-Me-Knot FC soccer team.Credit : Aaron Way
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