A football team made up of staff and clients at a mental health trust have won a £10,000 grant from the Football Association.

A3 Milan, from Roselands Resource Centre in New Malden, part of South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, has been running for three years.

The cash will be used to fund training and facility hire and will secure the team's future.

Ed Brennan, Access Team Manager at Roselands, said: "We help people who are recovering from mental illness to get on with their lives and the money will be a huge boost for us.

"I set up A3 Milan to bring us closer to our clients and give us all a chance to get fit, but the benefits have been even wider than I expected.

"Football has given many of the players a new direction and some have gone on to do coaching courses after they leave the centre."

In its early days, A3 Milan had just three or four players and the team was often short of opponents.

But having now joined the Positive Mental Attitude Football League in London, the first of its kind in the UK, players can keep up their weekly commitment.

"It's essential we keep up momentum," said Ed. "We now get 10 to 14 guys showing up every Thursday night, even in the freezing rain, and the extra money means they'll always get a game."