17 September 2024

Chris kicks off a new season of awareness raising

Chris and his dad inside the stadiumAPP super supporter Chris is back for another season of raising awareness of APP through attending football matches across the UK.

Since 2023, Chris has been going to football matches at grounds around and closest to the 22 Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) in the UK. He has a specially made purple APP football shirt that he wears for every match and does his best to get a mention in the matchday programme each time.

This season he's kicked off with a match at Crystal Palace FC. Chris reports back for us here:

'Match #6 complete! Football season is officially back! 
On Saturday 14th September 2024 I attended my 6th match of my football awareness tour with my dad Gary!  We went to see Crystal Palace draw 2-2 at home against Leicester at Selhurst Park. 
After a disappointing first half, The Eagles recovered from two nil down to secure a draw. The exciting second half and passionate home crowd, celebrating 100 years at Selhurst Park, made for a brilliant experience! 
I have to say a special thank you to my fellow PP dad who helped get us these tickets. I am so so grateful! This was a surprise fixture at this stage of my awareness tour, and a day neither my dad or I will forget. 
Despite very high demand I was able to get an entry about my challenge, postpartum psychosis and the MBUs in the match day programme!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to visit the local South London and Maudsley MBU in person on this occasion. But I did manage to speak to the Ward Manager and another member of staff before my trip, to thank them for all the amazing work they do.'

UPDATE 26th October 2024

Chris's latest trip was to Bolton last weekend, another successful day - he's reported back on it for us here:

Chris in his purple APP football top outside Bolton Wanderers Stadium'Match #7 complete!

 

Yesterday, Saturday 26th October 2024, I attended my 7th match of my football awareness tour with my good friend Ross.  We went to see Bolton beat Peterborough 1-0 at home thanks to a dramatic stoppage time winner.

 

I have to be honest and say we were hoping for a goal fest given the two clubs form, but it was certainly an entertaining finish!

 

Bolton put an amazing entry in their matchday programme about my challenge, postpartum psychosis and the MBUs. It was lovely!

 

Technically I have already attended a football match close to the Chorley Ribblemere MBU, seeing Accrington Stanley last October (2023), and also visiting the MBU in person this March (2024).

 

But Bolton is less than 10 miles away from the MBU. And I know Ross has been eagerly waiting to join in on this tour and help me in raising awareness for this cause. So it was a great day out!

 

Before the game we were lucky enough to meet up with Kieran Anders from Dad Matters.  It was great to be able to meet Kieran in person, fresh with a new trim having just chopped off his hair for The Little Princess Trust and Home-Start HOST!

 

In a rare turn of events for this awareness tour, the home team won! So Kieran said I am welcome to come back again!'

UPDATE 12th November 2024

Next stop on Chris's tour took him to Derby:

Chris standing pitchside with members of the Derby team.'On Saturday 9th November 2024 I attended my 8th match of my football awareness tour with my good friend Ed!

We went to see Derby draw 1-1 against Plymouth Argyle at home at Pride Park.

The highlights of the game had to be the opening goal, a bicycle kick from Derby, and an outrageous Derby strike from the halfway line that the Plymouth goalie just clawed away.

On this occasion I wasn't able to get an entry in the matchday programme...it appears Derby don't do public notifications in their programmes... But I do have to say a massive thank you to the club! They were really interested in our experience and my awareness tour, and arranged for us to have pitch side photographs with five Derby players before the match.

I knew that we were going to have pre-match photographs, but I didn't know that we would be walking down the tunnel and having the photographs with the players! So, this was another incredible and unexpected experience on this journey!

The Pride Park stadium is less than 5 miles from the Beeches MBU. And we actually got to visit this MBU on this trip. It was really nice to be able to meet the wonderful Jo and Becky and other members of staff at the Beeches MBU on this trip, to talk about our experience and the important work they do and to see how another MBU differs.  And it is really promising to hear that there is work being done for, and more consideration being given to, our experiences as partners as well.'

UPDATE 8th January 2025

For his first match of the new year, Chris headed to Watford on the 4th January.

Chris and his dad standing outside Vicarage Road Stadium

'I have been to my 9th match of my tour today with my dad Gary. We went to see Watford lose 2-1 against promotion chasing Sheffield United at home at Vicarage Road. 
The match marked the eighth anniversary of club legend Graham Taylor's passing with the 'Graham Taylor Matchday'.
I have to say this was the coldest match I have been to on this challenge so far! It was very cold! 
And I really do seem to be a curse to the home teams!
Watford put a really nice entry in their matchday programme about my challenge, Postpartum Psychosis and the MBUs. They even included my Instagram account in the entry to help spread awareness.
I did call the local Hertfordshire Thumbswood MBU before my trip, but unfortunately didn't get to visit in person on this occasion. '
 You can follow Chris's awareness raising adventures via his Instagram here.

If you're a dad or co-parent that would like to meet and talk with others whose partners have experienced PP, join our virtual Dads and Co-parents peer support social / cafe group - 8-9pm, every 3rd Wednesday of the month.  Zoom joining link: bit.ly/PARTNERMEET. Or, email Simon: simon@app-network.org