Sands United FC Solent is a unique football team supporting dads and other bereaved family members and their families who have suffered the loss of a baby through Miscarriage, Stillbirth or Neonatal death.

Our aim is to bring bereaved men together in a safe environment to play football, socialise and most importantly support each other. We pride ourselves on welcoming all abilities and also organise regular events that are not football focussed in case there is anyone that would like the support but is not necessarily into football.

Through football, we want to raise awareness around the subject of baby loss. This for too long has been a very taboo subject in society and for dads and male family members, a subject that they have often found too hard to discuss with peers. In many cases, this leads to mental health issues, relationship breakdowns and forms of social anxiety.

Joe’s Story

Our first-born son, Solomon, was born sleeping in 2019. I can’t really articulate the levels of pain that you descend into after losing a little one. It never crossed our minds before, as it’s something you never expect to happen to you.

The subsequent days, weeks and months were a blur, washed with our journey of grief we’d been thrown into. Having Solomon around us every day but not here with us was, and always will be inconsolable.

We knew, however, that we would do everything we possibly could to create an environment for all our loved ones (and anyone we met) to be able to celebrate our boy. We wanted to talk freely about him with no hesitation or awkwardness to anyone who asked. Telling someone you have 3 children but 2 here with us is quite a daunting conversation, but it has certainly got easier and is a stepping-stone to a bigger conversation and raising awareness about a massive community of grieving parents.

2 months after Solomon was born, I went to my first SANDS United Solent training session. I was met with friendly faces and an environment that I immediately felt safe in. Some people had never played football in their life before joining the club. Football is just the tool to bring people together, the support that we get from one another is unrivaled.

As a club and wider community, we continue to raise awareness and provide support to those who need it. All this Is done whilst wearing our babies’ names on our shirts and beaming with the pride we have for them.

Nick’s Story

In 2016, our lives changed forever when our daughter, Evalyn, was stillborn. At 38 weeks pregnant and with a newly painted nursery only finished the same week, you never expect that your baby won’t come home.

But sadly, our time spent at the hospital became the memories we now treasure. The goodbyes we whispered became our only conversations. Within 24 hours, we met our beautiful daughter and had to walk away with empty arms. But Evalyn was never left behind.

In the years that have followed, we have continued to make sure that Evalyn’s name is known and that her legacy is making a difference. Not only to our own family but within the wider babyloss community itself. As we grieve, we raise awareness. As we cry, we strive forward to pave a way where hope can be found amongst pain. No parent should ever have to feel alone in grief.

And Sands United Solent has become an incredibly important part of not only my journey without my daughter, but for other dads and family members who also live with broken hearts.

If you are unable to donate, please simply share and help us raise much-needed awareness of Sands United Solent and the Baby loss community on the whole.