Veterans encouraged to wear medals to Ipswich matches to spark mental health conversation
The campaign wants to see veterans using football to talk about mental health
Last updated 13th Nov 2022
Veterans are being encouraged to wear their medals or pin badges to Ipswich Town matches in an effort to get them talking about their mental health.
The campaign 'Medals at Matches' has been started by Nigel Seaman, a veteran and founder of Combat 2 Coffee.
Nigel told us he hopes seeing veterans, who 'typically don't talk about their issues' being open about their struggles will encourage others to be open about their own struggles.
Other veterans accompanied Nigel to the Tractor Boys game on Saturday, wearing black hoodies, and their medals to show their support.
Nigel deliberately debuted the campaign in Remembrance week, he told us, he believes remembrance week is about the whole military.
He told us: "Remembrance isn't just about those who have passed, it's about those who have served, families of those who have served, people who might want to join. Because it's about the whole military aspect of stuff.
"And, if we can spread the message about (that) there is support out there, this a good event to do it.
"The first football match should bring the two teams together, if you've got medals on, you've got something in common."
Before the match began Nigel was invited onto the pitch at the Ipswich Vs Cheltenham game with the Army Air core and some other veterans.
When he was on the pitch he was looking toward one of the stands and could see people with their medals on. He said 'So what we've started, has cascaded out and I think that's really important.'
We asked Nigel what it was like seeing the response to the campaign: "The response has been greater than I thought honestly. It's been phenomenal.
"Just having a chat in the Fan Zone, football players coming up to us talking saying 'this is a great idea.' They don't have a military background but they get it. And they've just said, 'great idea let's try and get this rolling and they'll support us."
Mr. Ager. - Royal Core Transport, wearing his medals to the match
Mr. Ager. - Royal Core Transport, wearing his medals to the match
We also spoke to other veterans who attended the event. Stuart Pennock grew up with Nigel and wore his medals to the game: "It's amazing really if you go back to when he {Nigel}started Combat 2 Coffee, he's had so much support from veterans alike.
"Myself and Terry (Another veteran at the event) have also supported him as much as we can, it's very difficult sometimes.
"What he's done for people on the edge is very poignant to everybody and every veteran's lives.
"Sometimes we just can't handle it, so it's created an entrance for a possibility of relief."
Nigel's son George also attended. He told us he is proud of the work his father has achieved.
"It's been wonderful to see how it's grown... to see people come through his project to get into full-time work, it's just brilliant to see.
"It's good to see him come through the stages of mental health himself.
"It's good to see other people connect in a way with similar situations and pasts and futures with football being the main talking point of that."
Nigel has aspirations of expanding the campaign into different sports and bigger arenas.
He wants people to know Combat 2 Coffee is open to anyone struggling with their mental health.