Sadly, in the UK the death of a baby is not a rare event. Every 90 minutes – the length of a football match – a baby dies shortly before, during or soon after birth. This loss is devastating for any family and leaves them trying to come to terms with such a tragedy. Sands is the neonatal and still birth death charity supporting families during this difficult time. Research shows that Dads can sometimes be overlooked or struggle to find ways of getting support that suits them. In 2018 the first Sand Utd football club was formed. Since then many more Sand Utd clubs have established themselves across the country providing a unique way for dads and other bereaved family members to come together through a shared love of sport and find a support network where they can feel at ease talking about their grief when they’re ready. By building trust and a common bond, by playing together as a team, many individuals have been able to break their silence about baby loss and help others to do the same. Sands United FC has already saved the lives of many men left feeling like they had no one to turn to in their grief. All Sands Utd teams commemorate their babies’ all too brief lives by proudly displaying their names on the kit worn at every match.
I was joined in the studio by 3 players from Sand Utd Essex; Matt, Ashley and Adam. They were courageous enough to share their own journeys and discuss what’s important when faced with such devastating circumstances.