STAFF at the University of Chester’s Padgate campus took part in a walking football match to raise funds and awareness for a mental health charity.

Lecturers took on the City of Liverpool Community FC, with the latter winning 7-4 and claiming the inaugural Wazza Cup.

Players were joined by former Warrington Wolves prop and State of Mind charity ambassador Danny Sculthorpe, as well as Chasing the Stigma chief executive Jake Mills.

Warrington Guardian:

The match raised more than £300 for Chasing the Stigma.

Dean McShane, mental health lecturer at the University of Chester, said: “Our aim was to promote Chasing the Stigma, and to help rid the stigma of mental illness.

“Both the University of Chester and the City of Liverpool Community FC have helped support this charity this year through various methods and collectively are coming together to raise awareness, to normalise the conversation and to let people know that it’s ok to not be ok.”

More events, including a walking rugby match, are now planned.

Warrington Guardian:

Michael Caulfield, welfare officer at the City of Liverpool Community FC, added: “We have had strong links as a club with State of Mind and Chasing the Stigma, and they have supported a number of our events that we have held around positive mental health.

“Dean has also been proactive in the support of the same events, so when we had a discussion about the possibility of a game with the university and our walking football team it snowballed from there and resulted in the great game that we had.

“All the guys at City of Liverpool really enjoyed the game and it was played in a great spirit, with lots of laughs as well.

“Here’s to more events in the future.”