The football team that isn't about football
By Cameron Dennison
The origins of Sands United
Sands is a charity that was formed back in 1978 by a group of bereaved parents with the intention of providing much needed support for those who are going through the grieving process.
Sands are a nationwide charity who offer numerous types of support including a confidential telephone helpline and online group sessions.
The charity doesn’t just help the parents with Sands offering support to anyone who needs it from grandparents to siblings.
The charity in 2024 alone helped over 760,000 people and have grown to become the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity.
They have also begun research projects to not only help the parents but also to try and lower the rate of still births.
In 2018 Rob Allen, a man who knew the grief all to well after the passing of his baby daughter Niamh, decided to organise a football match at Northampton Town in aid of the Sands charity.
With the game raising over £5,700, Allen then took the match idea to a new level by forming a team in the Northampton division which was later called Sands United FC.
Teams have formed all over the country since 2018 with it growing to 8 teams in 2019 alone and spread to Ireland and Wales in 2020.
With the club hitting 30 teams around the country in 2022.
The story hit the media by storm with the club teaming up with the likes of Ben Shephard and Lewis Capaldi.
Lewis even went to create a music video which spoke about Rob Allen and the effect Sands United has had all over the country telling Rob’s story to a country that needed to hear it.
George Dean who runs Sands United Salisbury said: “Ultimately, it’s a peer support group.
“The main thing in terms of what the club seeks to provide is to provide a community of dads and generally men who have experienced baby loss.
“It creates a community where when you are ready to talk you can.”
One example of the teams that grew from Allen’s idea was Sands United Salisbury which was formed back in 2020.
A pioneer behind this team was Sam Woolford who sadly left his role in 2024 but still has a lot of contact with the club.
Dean said: “it wouldn’t exist without him; his energy is what really drove it through.
“We’ve existed for six plus years and it’s really a testament to him and the work he’s done and the community he’s built.”
Sands United Salisbury has come along way since its formation back in 2020, but it also had an amazing beginning with an incredible 19 people showing up to the first session alone.
Showing just how vital clubs and charities like these are to the community.
But it’s not just the players who benefit from the club with a lot of charity work going on in the background to help not only the club but the charity as well.
With Salisbury taking part in numerous charity projects such as the thirty-two thousand reps challenge which raised over £600.
The biggest example of charity work the club has done so far was back in 2023 when the club took part in the three peak challenge which raised nearly £9,000.
United also take part in a lot of charity matches which normally consist of either other Sands United teams such as Basingstoke and Solent or other charities such as the mental health charity Kick out the stigma.
“They’re really important because again it’s getting the players to work together for a common cause,” Dean said.
“We also support other charities who directly impact out local community and again that’s an important part so we’re not precious about who we raise money for, the key thing is we look at how it impacts the community.”
The charity work is one huge pillar of what makes Sands United Salisbury what it is with them not stopping there.
Dean said: “We want to focus on the fundraising side as well so there is nothing firm at the moment, but I’d hope to change that answer over the next couple of months.”
Sands United Sailsbury at 3 peaks Photo credit: George Dean
Sands United Sailsbury at 3 peaks Photo credit: George Dean
The reception from the community to the club has also been detrimental to its success with local clubs and businesses donating to the cause.
For example, back in 2020 League two club Swindon Town donated equipment to the team.
With the local schools also getting involved with Sands playing an annual friendly against a group of parents from Salisbury Cathedral School to raise money for the charity.
Dean said: “There’s going to be someone that’s part of that business that has experienced a loss of a baby on some level so often the willingness to support the club is big.
“Whenever we do reach out and we ask for support it’s always forthcoming and I think you know generally about Salisbury what people say is that it is a close-knit community and it does pull together and we’ve certainly seen that.”
However, there is one thing that make Sands United Salisbury what it is today and that’s the people in it and the effect it has on those involved.
With Sands being the only football club that isn’t about the football the impact of programmes like this is clear to see,
One of the biggest examples is George Dean who has taken over the role of looking over the club.
After losing his son Leo back in 2024 George was approached by a member of Sands United Salisbury Chris Webb after he had overheard George and his wife Katie’s conversation about their experience.
George said: “It was really speaking to Chris who was a member of Sands United Salisbury that gave me the confidence and the comfort level to reach out.
“It’s very much a familiar story to other dads who are with Sands that it’s ultimately the loss of your baby that takes you there.”
The feeling of being a Sands United Salisbury player is one like no other which George can truly attest to with his experience since joining the club.
“Personally, I can’t speak more highly of the impact that Sands United Sailsbury has had on me, and I think other players would echo that sentiment.
“For me football gave me a productive outlet to channel my emotions into.
“There were days where I would go and you know I was really struggling but it might be something that as simple as someone just coming up and putting their hand on my shoulder that made a real difference.”
George is just one of the many people that have been supported by Sands United Salisbury and they are always looking to help more people.
“The first thing I would say is I’m just so sorry for your loss, grief is so difficult to navigate because every emotion is just so raw.
“We all understand, you can talk and share and all you will just get understanding back.
“I think that’s the special thing about Sands United it’s just that feeling of not being alone and knowing that others get it and you don’t have to explain yourself.”
If you are experiencing something like the topic of this feature contact Sands United Salisbury: https://www.sufcsalisbury.co.uk/get-in-touch
Or you can contact them on their Instagram and Facebook page: @SUFCSALISBURY
Built with Shorthand