International Men’s Day

 

Club and community arrange activities to encourage conversation on manhood and masculinity

 2021 theme focusses on making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys

 We are proud to support International Men’s Day, which takes place on Friday 19th November.

 The International Men’s Day campaign is growing in the UK year-on-year, with over 200 organisations raising awareness of the cause over the past two years.

 As a Premier League club, Burnley Football Club, along with official charity Burnley FC in the Community, are committed to raising awareness of the campaign with the hope of increasing the focus on men’s mental health and wellbeing.

 This year’s theme is to ‘make a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys,’ focussing on issues such as health and mental wellbeing, fatherhood, employment and education, isolation and loneliness, homelessness and all forms of abuse including domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Highlighting the importance of positive role models for boys and young men, we were proud to initiate conversation by facilitating a roundtable discussion with different male figures from across the club and community department, including participants of community projects and fans. We focussed on eight questions such as ‘what does it mean to be a man?’.

 Encompassing a range of backgrounds and job roles, the group included the club's Head of Matchday Operations Russell Ball, Operations & Facilities Intern Adrian Lecoustre, Burnley FC Inclusion Advisory Board Attendee & Green Party Councillor Scott Cunliffe and Burnley FC Youth Advisory Board Member Liam Williams.

 Male students from Coal Clough Academy and West Craven High School also gave a valuable insight into being a young male in 2021, highlighting the perspectives of different generations.

 Clarets+ commentator Phil Bird, who was in attendance on the day, said: “I come from a generation where you really didn’t open-up. You were told to be expressionless and get on with your life. Despite the trials and tribulations, you may have faced, you were expected to put a face on to hide those emotions. Thankfully, its different now.

 “Having a diverse age group as part of the panel today, really helped me in understanding how far we have come in understanding men’s mental health.”

 A key takeaway message from the discussion was how positive steps have been taken to encourage men to open up and talk about their feelings and their struggles.

 Burnley FC Women Manager, Matt Bee, said: “I think at times a male role model can come across as this perfect superhero.

“However, it’s important to remember we are all human. We all face adversity through different obstacles and at times we can get things wrong. Despite role models having some good aspects, there are also lessons we can learn from mistakes and unfortunate decisions, which is always inevitable.”

 In addition to the roundtable discussion, Burnley FC in the Community Primary & Secondary School Engagement Manager Gwilym Jones and Phil Bird recorded a Podcast with members of the group, to reflect on the roundtable, which is available for all to listen to.

Reflecting on the day, Gurpri Bains, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead for Burnley FC, said: “As a football club we are in a prime position to positively promote male conversation and encourage an open dialogue around International Men’s Day.

“It was so insightful to listen to the groups open discussion at the roundtable, it was important to bring together people from varied backgrounds, with different experiences and stories to tell. Opening the conversation on what expectations and values are attributed to being a man, the positive and negatives of male stereotyping and delving into the meaning behind the statement man-up.

 “The work International Men’s Day are doing in this area, to encourage conversation, is imperative and we wanted to help support their message that there is support and resources out there for men who may be struggling.”

 The work around mental wellbeing is ongoing at Burnley FC who recently organised mental health training for staff, with 16 staff from across the football club and charity trained as Mental Health First Aiders, the club also recently begun the recruitment for a newly created position of a club psychologist working across the entirety of the club.

 In further commitment to increasing awareness around mental health, Charity, Burnley FC in the Community, offer the Schools’ Mental Wellbeing Project, which is currently delivered in eleven high schools within Burnley and Pendle. The aim of the project is to support young people with their mental wellbeing by having a full time BFCitC Mental Wellbeing Worker, in each of the eleven schools. Find out more about the club and Mike Garlick here.

Burnley Women

Welcome to the Mike Garlick Burnley FC News fan blog page. A dramatic extra time winner from the penalty spot earned Burnley FC Women a place in the FA Cup third round next weekend. Nic Worthington kept her cool late in the day to step up and score the only goal of a nervy clash with Fylde Women at Padiham.

And as a result of the momentous win - in the first game played since the Women officially came under the club banner - Matt Bee’s side will host divisional rivals Sunderland AFC Ladies next weekend for the right to face Manchester United in round four. 

Delighted Burnley Manager Matt Bee said: “Today’s performance was built on a clear work ethic, desire and togetherness.

“Irrespective of having months off due to lockdown, these are the things that I expect the team to have and I’m happy that the players executed the game plan to the letter and everyone played their part.”

The Clarets, back in action for the first time since November, started strongly and Fylde had a big let off as Worthington fed Evie Priestley, whose chip over the advancing keeper hit the post.

However, the Coasters also posed problems and Clarets keeper Lauren Bracewell saved well from Faye McCoy, before Bethany Donoghue slid in front of goal but was inches short of the target.

In the closing minutes of the first half, the Clarets regained composure with chances created by Lizzy Hamer and Katie Thomas. The second half of normal time proved equally tight, with chances for both sides at a premium, as Katie Thomas twice went close for the hosts before Faye McCoy almost won it for Fylde at the death, when her header smacked the crossbar. But with extra time looking unlikely to separate the Lancashire rivals and penalties looming, Priestley weas upended in the box and Worthington stepped up to spark joy in the home ranks.

Bee added: “We have to work hard this week to get ready for Sunday. Sunderland will be a tough game so it will be a challenge.

“However, we’re ready to work hard again this week to go again on Sunday and hopefully put in another positive performance in the competition.”

Check back soon for more updates!

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Welcome to the Burnley FC fan blog. Football brings out the emotions and passions of fans and we welcome ALL opinions on the subjects posted. In today's blog, football bodies hold talks with the health of the nation's top priority. Senior representatives from the PFA, Premier League, EFL, and LMA met today and shared a constructive meeting regarding the challenges facing the game as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting reiterated that the overriding priority is the health and well-being of the nation - including that of players, coaches, managers, club staff and supporters – and everyone agreed football must only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so. No decisions were taken today with discussions set to continue in the next 48 hours with a focus on several high-profile matters, including player wages and the resumption of the 2019/20 season.

Get involved by showing love on this page. Mike Garlick is the chairman of Burnley FC. Read more about the chairman Mike Garlick Burnley on this page here. Alternatively, you can also read the Mike Garlick Burnley news and stories here.

Mike Garlick Burnley FC Q&A 

Burnley Football Club make plans to add to squad

Welcome to the unofficial Burnley Football Club blog. Burnley Football Club is a professional football club based in Burnley, Lancashire, England, founded on 18 May 1882. In today's post Burnley chairman Mike Garlick says that the Clarets are keen to add quality signings to their squad over the summer but insist the club will continue with a sensible approach. Read on to find out more.

The Clarets face a crucial transfer window with boss Sean Dyche keen to add to his squad to push on ahead of the 2019-20 Premier League campaign. Burnley ended this season with a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday to finish 15th in the top flight - their second best placing in the Premier League, after securing seventh a year ago.

Clarets chairman Mike Garlick, writing in the club programme for the visit of the Gunners, said the transfer window is already a priority for the Clarets. He said: "Attentions turn immediately to summer business and looking to strengthen the squad. Again, I'll reiterate that we will look to do that sensibly - and it will be another tough market to work in. But wherever possible, and within the financial model that has served us so well, we will look to add quality to our numbers."

The Clarets have already confirmed that defender Stephen Ward will leave the club when his contract expires in the summer while goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard will also depart. Phil Bardsley has had his contract extended by a further year after activating a clause in his deal by virtue of playing the required number of games. Peter Crouch is the other Claret out of contract this summer and the striker revealed that talks will take place over the next few weeks.

Check back for more latest news from the Burnley Football team.

Burnley Football Club has been champions of England twice, in 1920–21 and 1959–60, have won the FA Cup once, in 1914, and have won the Community Shield twice, in 1960 and 1973. The club currently plays in the Premier League, the first tier of English football. More about Burnley Football Club online here. You can get all the latest news from Burnley Football Club by liking our dedicated Facebook page here. Read Burnley Football Club  news here.