Want to play football at a Premier League stadium?

If you’ve ever fancied a kick-about at a Premier League ground, now’s your chance. An inter-trade football tournament is raising money this summer to support Mind, the mental health charity.

Ironmongery Direct will host the event on 25 May 2024 at 09.00-12.00 at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge stadium. It will be the UK’s first ever inter-trade football tournament, with teams representing different professions.

There are 48 spaces available and tradespeople can apply to play here. Selected players will be required to fundraise for Mind, and there will also be activities on the day, such as penalty shootouts.

Players will be arranged into squads based on their trade, with teams representing builders, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and joiners, roofers and scaffolders, and other trades.

The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 is ‘movement’, and the campaign aims to highlight the benefits of exercise and staying active. IronmongeryDirect has already donated more £13,000 to support Mind’s vital services over the past few years.

IronmongeryDirect’s annual Mental Health in the Trades report has surveyed tradespeople across the country to reveal the scale of mental health problems in the industry. It found that more than four in five (82%) people have experienced symptoms such as anxiety or depression due to work.

The cost-of-living crisis (34%) and the rising cost of materials (32%) are the leading causes of concern, as they were last year, but poor work-life balance (24%) is among the top issues too.

Ellis Osborn, ecommerce manager at IronmongeryDirect, says: “Mental health problems are unfortunately prevalent across the industry, and that’s why we’re continuing to raise awareness, and encourage tradespeople to seek support if needed.”