The football match for men’s mental health

The second instalment of the Paul Caunter memorial football match was recently played at Bay City Park on Auckland's North Shore. The annual match is played in honour of the late Paul Caunter, who took his own life in January 2022. Paul was a prominent football coach, with connections to many football clubs in Auckland and the North Shore. The Caunter family brought family, friends, and the football community together to raise money to support men’s mental health.

Paul’s daughter, Ella Caunter, and Movember ambassador, Jack Newman, chatted with us about the match and the importance of getting men together to talk about mental health & suicide prevention.

Hi Ella and Jack. Thanks for sitting down with us. Can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your connection to Movember?

Ella: Hi, my name is Ella Caunter. I am surrounded by my beautiful family, my mum Sarah, and brothers Louie and Jack. You can often find me at my brother's gym, “Jack's Gym”. He has created a safe place for people to enjoy working out. On the first Saturday of every month, he hosts a “mental health morning” that makes sure we are all checking in on one another.

Movember holds a special place in our hearts. Movember has helped us realise that we are not alone in our grief and allowed us to connect to so many people by doing something in honour of our late father.

Jack: And I’m Jack, Jack Newman, not Ella’s brother, just so there’s no confusion. I was Born in England but have called Auckland home for the last 17 years. I've been involved with Movember for many years and recently became a Movember community ambassador. Movember has provided me with a platform to speak and present to large groups of men, allowing me to share my own experiences further and create spaces where men are safe to open up and be vulnerable.

Ella, can you tell us about your dad and why you host a football match in his honour?

Ella: Dad loved football. Ever since I could remember I was getting footballs kicked in my direction. Apparently, I was already on the sidelines watching with my parents at 3 weeks old. He played a major role in young men's lives, encouraging them to always strive for greatness within the football community. There are so many men that he coached, or he had influence with when it came to their football journey.

The memorial football match takes place each year around the same weekend my dad took his own life. We get the people he impacted in his life together, to remember him and honour him, by playing his favourite game. My brothers thought that this would be the best way to continue his legacy, so we decided to host an annual football match to raise money for Movember and honour our late father.

How did the match go? Any stars out there on the pitch?

Ella: The match went great. My brother Jack’s team won the trophy for the first time since we started the event. So, he was happy. A big group of family and friends showed up to watch. We handed out some Movember Merch to the players of the day. Even those who haven’t played in years dusted off their boots and gave it a go. It was awesome to have East Coast Bays AFC help us put it all together. And a shout out to my other brother, Louie, who was the chief organiser of the event, and has put in a lot of time and effort to make the event possible.

Jack: I was quite impressed by the standard of football. There were plenty of stars out there. The Caunter brothers did a great job with their respective teams, and it was a very entertaining game. I also can't miss this opportunity to state I didn't miss a penalty in the half time penalty shootout competition, an achievement I'll hold onto dearly.

What was taken away from the event? What conversations were had?

Ella: Men's mental health and suicide prevention is the topic of conversation for most of the day. This year we were stoked to have Jack (Newman) join the event and talk to us about Movember and men's mental health.

The football match is predominantly men, so it is a great way to get them to open up and have a conversation and connect with others. As a female, sometimes it feels hard to understand or even comprehend men's mental health. It is hard for me to comprehend the stigma that men often don't talk, and perhaps if we broke this stigma potentially our late father would have had deeper conversations with us about his emotional and mental wellbeing.

Jack: It was a very special day that had such an amazing feel and vibe to it. It was truly incredible to see and experience the support that this community has for each other. I was blown away by the Caunter family. The way they ran the event and were so welcoming and open was amazing. There were so many great conversations throughout the day. These were bolstered throughout the post-game speeches, with many reminders of why we were there and the importance of checking in with friends and family. Events like this certainly leave me with a sense of gratitude and feeling positive about the future of men's health.

Ella: Yes, please check in with your mates, your colleagues, and your families. Show them you care and let them know they have a safe space to open up if they need it.

Need help navigating a chat with someone who might be struggling? Use these simple tips to open and guide the conversation.

If you, or someone you know, is feeling low, don't hesitate to reach out for support using these local support resources.

Around the world, the rate of male suicide is alarmingly high: almost seven out of 10 suicides globally are men. Movember are working towards a world where men take action to be mentally well, and are supported by those around them. Urgent support is available for you or someone you know by calling:

1737 Need To Talk (1737) The Suicide Crisis Helpline (0508 828 865), or Lifeline (0800 543 354)