WELL-BEING is generally defined as being in a positive physical, social and mental state. The three are linked and an improvement in one of these areas can make it easier for the other two to follow suit.

At the top level, football is about the physical, mental, and technical qualities of a group working together. The greatest teams in the history of the game possessed some kind of social unity or favourable social dynamic.

The game of football, along with other team sports, is about diverse individual identities becoming part of something bigger once they combine as a whole on the football pitch.

Remove the technical aspect — if applicable — and football at any level can have a positive effect on all three areas of a person’s well-being.

Any kind of physical exercise can help improve mental health thanks to the natural release of endorphins and serotonin and numerous studies have shown exercise can have similar effects to an anxiolytic or anti-depressant.

At any standard, playing football can help improve participants’ well-being at a physical and social level.

Mike Caulfield is the welfare officer at City of Liverpool FC, who runs a social football scheme alongside the Football for Everyone scheme featured in last weekend’s Morning Star.

“The main ethos is around inclusion, everyone is part of something and can have that sense of belonging,” says Caulfield.

“This is something we’ve driven since day one with City of Liverpool, especially with the welfare side of things.

“Social isolation is a massive problem, especially in middle-aged to older males, so somebody having something — whether its playing football on a Sunday or watching football on a Saturday — can help give them that sense of belonging.

“Everyone is welcome. That’s the big thing about it. The focus is on inclusion and on breaking down those barriers. People who may be socially isolated can come along and feel part of something.”

The community and welfare arms of City of Liverpool regularly cross paths and this has led to mixed games of football between those taking part in Social Football and Football for Everyone.

Though they are aimed at helping specific areas of society most in need of support, their collective aims are effectively the same: to involve the local community regardless of age, ability, gender, or background.

This can then lead to those taking part meeting up on match days and many of the participants have gone on to become a part of the club in their own way.

“We’ve had people who have learned about the Social Football scheme then come to the games on the Saturday on the back of that and they become part of the club,” says Caulfield.

“There is a physical well-being element, a social well-being element and it is also about the development of the club, promoting the welfare and the community side of what we do.

“It’s about inclusion, its about having accessibility and having a platform that links football with that sense of community. A variety of ages and a variety of abilities.

“It is really good fun and it’s good to see the humour that’s there and the camaraderie. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, which I think is key as well.”

The welfare arm of City of Liverpool also works with a number of mental-health charities around the area, as well as helping to promote Liverpool Football Therapy — which hosts sessions similar to social football on weeknights.

What started out as a walking-football session or a local five-a-side equivalent of masters football has evolved into a mental-health initiative which encourages participation where age or ability is not a barrier.

The fewer the barriers or obstacles to someone getting out and exercising physically, mentally, and socially, the more likely they are to improve their well-being.

Initiatives such as Social Football play a big part in encouraging participation, be this from people who have lived in the area their whole lives or have just arrived in the area from another country. 

It’s all about inclusion, helping everyone in the community improve their well-being and giving them the chance to do so.