Sporting Chance has teamed up with The Players Foundation to establish a new research hub, dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of professional footballers and elite athletes across a wide range of sports.
Sporting Chance was set up in 2000 by the former Arsenal and England captain, Tony Adams MBE, and is the main provider of emotional and mental health treatment and education to the UK sports industry.
The Players Foundation offers guidance and support to current and former professional footballers and will provide funding to help establish the research hub, while Loughborough University will bring its globally recognised sporting expertise to this new partnership.
Colin Bland, Chief Executive of Sporting Chance, said: “We are establishing an industry-led research function that fills a critical gap in football. While academic research plays a valuable role, much of it remains disconnected from the real-world needs of players and coaches. Better research is required to strengthen player care and mental health provision, and our collaboration with the Foundation and Loughborough is vital to ensuring successful implementation.”
David Harrison, Chief Executive of The Players Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Sporting Chance and Loughborough University on initiating a new research hub that will fill a crucial gap in mental health support for both current and retired professional footballers. Sporting Chance is uniquely positioned to bring the worlds of sport and academia together and we are proud to be part of this exciting new initiative.”
Sporting Chance runs the only residential clinic in the world that treats addictive disorders exclusively for current and retired players. Now, with the support of The Players Foundation, a series of quarterly retreats or ‘refreshers’ is being delivered, with the aim of improving the recovery journey for those players who need specialist support.
