There is a group of people in the heart of Crystal Palace who gather each week for a game of football.

You may be saying to yourself, "What's so special about that?"

Well this 40-strong collective is using the game to tackle mental health.

Supported by Palace for Life Foundation and Mind in Croydon, the team has been together for more than eight years, growing from a small group in the stadium car park to more than 40 players training at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre this year.

“Out there you’re a team, if someone has a problem, you work with them to find out what’s wrong," said 24-year-old Lee who has been attending for more than a year.

"We’ve created an atmosphere where we can all work together, rather than be scared or anxious.

"That’s what our team is about, unity and coming together."

Dora Crook, active minds manager at Mind in Croydon, has been involved from the start and refers people to the team to assist their treatment and recovery from wide-ranging mental health illnesses.

“It started with one of our service users saying they wanted to do some football and from there it has just grown and grown,” she said.

“It’s amazing to watch people and see how their confidence grows from being part of something.

"Some people have gone on to find employment and we have others who have started volunteering."

James, 41, has been playing with the team for more three years after initially coming to sessions with a friend.

He credits the group with helping him come out of his shell and has now taken on the responsibility of team manager, organising fixtures and kit for the team.

“I was bad with my depression and anxiety and I wasn’t coming out much and then coming here and meeting new people, that really brought my confidence on.

"Being given that responsibility [team manager] just boosted my confidence so much, it’s days like this that I look forward to, getting out the door and knowing the boys need me keeps me motivated.”

A recovering alcoholic, James is now also working towards setting up a new team in Bromley for a drugs and alcohol service.

“I stopped drinking eight months ago and it’s given me the confidence to go to Bromley Council and say I think this could work for recovering addicts, I would never have thought of doing that before, it’s made me a better person."