Talking Football CIC

Talking Football CIC ⚽️ Talking Football CIC
💙Established in 2022
🧠 Mental health & wellbeing
🤝 Peer-led support through football
💬 Play. Talk. Connect.

Support
🏟 Lancashire FA affiliated
📍 Bolton

LOOK WHAT YOU’VE BUILT. 💙💛You.Every person who has turned up, kicked a ball, had a laugh, started a conversation or supp...
05/09/2026

LOOK WHAT YOU’VE BUILT. 💙💛

You.

Every person who has turned up, kicked a ball, had a laugh, started a conversation or supported someone else has played a part in making Talking Football what it is today.

What started with a football has grown into something much bigger.

Over the last few weeks:

🔵 MEN’S SESSIONS
9 sessions • 324 attendances • 2 matches

🩷 WOMEN’S SESSIONS
7 sessions • 30 women attending

And we’ve taken it beyond football too, bringing our men and women together for a rounders tournament. 🥎

But these aren’t just numbers.

They represent people showing up, connecting, talking, laughing and supporting each other.

For some, it’s simply an hour away from the pressures of everyday life.

For others, it might be the hour they needed.

That’s what you’ve helped create.

Football is the vehicle. You are the reason.

And the journey continues. ⚽💙💛

📍 BOLTON ARENA

🔵 MEN — Monday & Wednesday, 7–8pm
🩷 WOMEN — Friday, 7–8pm
👥 All sessions are 16+
⚽ No football experience needed

These are Talking Football.

Two men’s sessions every week.
A women’s session every Friday.
A place where football creates the opportunity to talk, connect and support.

If you didn’t know about us before, you do now. 💙💛

PLAY. TALK. CONNECT. SUPPORT.

Four players tonight — but four is four more than we had before we started! 💗⚽️Once again, it was fantastic to welcome a...
04/09/2026

Four players tonight — but four is four more than we had before we started! 💗⚽️

Once again, it was fantastic to welcome a new face to our women’s session. 🙌

We know people have other commitments and getting everyone along at the same time will take a little time. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and more and more people are starting to hear about what we’re trying to build.

We genuinely believe that, given time, the ladies’ sessions will take off. 🌱

A huge thank you to everyone who made it along tonight. Your support, commitment and willingness to give it a go is exactly how we build something special.

And a massive shout out to Bolton Arena for helping us facilitate these new sessions and, more importantly, for their continued support of Talking Football as a whole over the last four years. 💙💛

Play. Talk. Connect. Support.

⚽️ WEDNESDAY NIGHT REFLECTION ⚽️34 men.4 teams.1 hour of football.Countless conversations, laughs and moments of connect...
03/09/2026

⚽️ WEDNESDAY NIGHT REFLECTION ⚽️

34 men.
4 teams.
1 hour of football.
Countless conversations, laughs and moments of connection. 💙💛

For the first time since the clocks went forward, we were back under the lights at Bolton Arena on a Wednesday night. 🌙💡

And what a session it was.

Good football, a great vibe, plenty of laughs and, more importantly, lads supporting and encouraging one another throughout.

Everyone was excellent, but as the lads chatted while leaving the pitch, some names received some fantastic feedback from their teammates 👏

🔹 Jack T – showed great resilience, battling on after taking a knock.

🔹 Ben M – showing just how much his confidence is growing on the pitch. Brilliant to see.

🔹 Ian J – worked incredibly hard and came so close to finishing a fantastic team goal. (Check out the footage 👀)

🔹 Carl W – an absolute defensive rock, heading away literally everything that came his way! 🧱😂

And as we step into September — Su***de Prevention Month — last night was a perfect reminder of why we do what we do.

34 men came together.

They played.
They talked.
They laughed.
They connected.
They supported one another.

And for one hour, everyone had a place where they belonged.

That’s a pretty powerful achievement. 💙💛

Play. Talk. Connect. Support.

🚨 LADIES — WE NEED YOU! 🚨THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU HERE. ❤️⚽️Not a footballer? GOOD.Not fit? WHO CARES.Never played before...
03/09/2026

🚨 LADIES — WE NEED YOU! 🚨

THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU HERE. ❤️⚽️

Not a footballer? GOOD.
Not fit? WHO CARES.
Never played before? EVEN BETTER.

Because this isn’t really about how well you can play football.

It’s about YOU.

📅 FRIDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER
📍 BOLTON ARENA
⏰ 7–8PM

Our women’s group is growing week by week, and we want to build something special.

A place to:
⚽️ Get active
😂 Have a laugh
💬 Have a chat
🤝 Meet new people
❤️ Build connections
🫶 Support one another

You don’t need experience.
You don’t need ability.
You don’t need to be super fit.

Just turn up.

Come on your own. Bring a friend. Take that first step.

📲 DM us for the Heja app code and get yourself signed up.

**YOU MIGHT COME FOR THE FOOTBALL…

BUT YOU’LL SOON REALISE IT’S THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP YOU COMING BACK. ❤️**

Come and find your people.
Come and be part of the community.

⚽️ PLAY. TALK. CONNECT. SUPPORT.

THE NUMBERS ARE SHOCKING.BUT BEHIND EVERY NUMBER IS A PERSON.Thousands of people die by su***de every year.Men remain ar...
02/09/2026

THE NUMBERS ARE SHOCKING.
BUT BEHIND EVERY NUMBER IS A PERSON.

Thousands of people die by su***de every year.

Men remain around three times more likely to die by su***de than women.

But these aren’t just statistics.

They’re dads, mums, sons, daughters, partners, brothers, sisters and friends.

And every su***de leaves devastation behind.

Families left with questions.
Friends wondering if they missed a sign.
Empty chairs around dinner tables.
Messages that will never be answered.

So what can we do differently?

Maybe sometimes it starts with something as simple as:

“Fancy a game?” ⚽

Because football can open doors.

A game.
A laugh.
A bit of banter.
A conversation on the sidelines.
A simple “You alright?”

And suddenly, someone who felt alone is surrounded by people who care.

That’s what Talking Football is about.

Yes, we play football.

But football is the vehicle.

The real goal is connection.

It gives people:

⚽ A reason to get out
🗣️ A chance to talk
🤝 A sense of belonging
😂 Friendship, laughter and support
🧠 A positive outlet
💪 Confidence and purpose

You don’t need to be fit.
You don’t need to be a great footballer.
You don’t even need to talk.

Just turn up.

Because football won’t solve everything.

But it can bring people together.

It can create conversations.

It can help someone feel seen, valued and supported.

And sometimes, that first step towards hope is simply knowing:

“I’m not on my own.”

So check in.

Ask twice.

Listen.

Make the conversation normal.

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available:

* Samaritans: Call 116 123 free, 24 hours a day, or email [email protected].
* Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 support in the UK.
* Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): Call 0800 58 58 58 from 5pm to midnight every day.
* Papyrus HOPELINE247: Call 0800 068 41 41 or text HOPE to 88247 for support for people under 35.
* Emergency help: If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to the nearest A&E department.

And if someone says:

“Fancy a game?”

Maybe say yes.

PLAY. TALK. CONNECT. SUPPORT. 💙💛

***dePrevention

🏆 TALKING FOOTBALL | PLAYERS OF THE MONTH – AUGUST 🏆A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to vote… but you’ve m...
01/09/2026

🏆 TALKING FOOTBALL | PLAYERS OF THE MONTH – AUGUST 🏆

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to vote… but you’ve made our job a little harder! 😂

We have a tie!

👏 Congratulations to Kieran Loughran & Mark Barlow 👏

Two very different players, but two lads who absolutely deserve this recognition.

⚽ KIERAN LOUGHRAN

Kieran wears his heart on his sleeve — and he plays with exactly the same passion, commitment and determination.

He’s been outstanding in the sessions he’s attended throughout August, but his performance in our recent match against Blackpool Football Therapy really stood out.

Running his socks off in midfield — not his usual or favoured position! — Kieran put in a massive shift for the team, never stopped working and capped it off with a thoroughly deserved goal. 💪⚽

⚽ MARK BARLOW

Mark might be one of the more experienced gentlemen in the group… but he continues to prove that age really is just a number. 👏

A fantastic example to everyone in the group, Mark has had a brilliant August.

A goal against Blackpool Football Therapy, another goal in our recent charity match AND an outstanding assist in the same game.

Not bad for one of our more “experienced” players! 😂🙌

But ultimately, this award isn’t just about goals, assists or performances.

It’s about commitment, attitude, supporting your teammates and being part of what makes Talking Football what it is.

Both lads represent that brilliantly.

So congratulations Kieran & Mark — August Players of the Month! 🏆👏

You both thoroughly deserve it, and we’re delighted you get to share the award.

Play. Talk. Connect. Support. 💙💛

🚨 SU***DE PREVENTION MONTH | SEPTEMBER 🚨Sometimes, one hour can change more than you realise.At Talking Football, we’ve ...
01/09/2026

🚨 SU***DE PREVENTION MONTH | SEPTEMBER 🚨

Sometimes, one hour can change more than you realise.

At Talking Football, we’ve built something that goes far beyond football.

We’ve built a community.

A place where people turn up as strangers and leave knowing they’re not alone.

Where one person checks in on another.

Where someone notices when a mate isn’t quite themselves.

Where you can laugh, talk, play football, have a bad day, have a good day — and still know you belong.

And sometimes, just one hour a week can make a difference.

⚽ Get active
🧠 Clear your head
🤝 Connect with others
💬 Have a conversation
😂 Laugh and have fun
❤️ Feel part of something
🙌 Build confidence
🔗 Reduce isolation
💪 Improve your wellbeing
👥 Know there are people who have your back

You don’t have to be struggling to benefit from being part of a community.

And you don’t have to have all the answers to support someone else.

Sometimes it’s simply being there.

Because su***de prevention isn’t just about what we do when someone reaches crisis point.

It’s about connection, conversation and community before they get there.

So this September, check in on your mates.

Ask the question.

Listen.

And if you’re struggling yourself, don’t suffer in silence.

One hour.

One conversation.

One person checking in.

It could mean more than you ever know.

💙 PLAY. TALK. CONNECT. SUPPORT.

***dePreventionMonth ***dePrevention

31/08/2026

🌦️ BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY… BRITISH WEATHER… NO EXCUSES! 😂⚽️

We genuinely experienced all four seasons at Bolton Arena this morning! 🤣

☀️ Sunshine
🌧️ Torrential rain
☀️ Sunshine again…

At one point we weren’t sure whether we were playing football or filming an advert for the Met Office! 😂

But the weather wasn’t going to deter the lads.

An incredible 30 lads got themselves down to Bolton Arena this morning to stretch their legs, get a game in, have a laugh and start the Bank Holiday the right way. 💪⚽️

No alarm clock excuses.
No weather excuses.
No “I’ll go next week.” 😂

Just 30 lads turning up for themselves and for each other.

That commitment is what makes this group so special. ❤️

Whatever the weather, whatever life throws at you…

Get yourself through the door. The rest will follow.

⚽️ Play. Talk. Connect. Support.

🎥 courtesy of our biggest cheerleader Beth 🙏

31/08/2026

🚨 Attention BWFC fans 🚨

We are giving away this full team signed photo montage signed but last seasons Wembley Play-Off final winners.

To be entered all you have to do is……..

▪️Follow our Page The White Wall Memorabilia ✅

▪️ Share this post ✅

▪️leave a comment ✅

The winner will be picked at random from the comment section on this post on Bank Holiday Monday 31st August.

Good luck guys ⚽️💙

Address

Bolton Arena
Bolton
BL6 6LB

Opening Hours

Monday 7pm - 8pm
Wednesday 7pm - 8pm

Website

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