Greg’s story: “The follow up is so important”

Greg Browns is the man who kicked off NZMOBallers – a 5-a-side football tournament raising funds for mental health. But he knows sweeter success only comes after taking the first step – whether that’s building community or checking in on a mate.

Greg, you legend. When you first imagined the NZMOBallers tournament, what did you hope people would walk away feeling and was there a moment on the day where you realised, “This is becoming something bigger than football”?

I wanted NZMOBallers to be a day where we could bring together 100+ lads who all share a mutual love for the game, while also creating an environment where people felt comfortable enough to open up to their mates if they wanted to. For me, football like any sport, has always been incredible for my mental health. Just the enjoyment of the game, being around good people, and competing takes a weight off your shoulders and makes you feel better.

I knew the tournament was going to be successful because I had so many people helping behind the scenes and such an awesome amount of support from the community. But more than anything, what I really wanted was to bring joy to the footy community.

I think the moment that summed that up perfectly was when the celebrity coaches arrived and we were introducing them to everyone. I remember looking around and seeing people smiling, laughing, fully engaged, and just genuinely having a great time. Seeing that atmosphere and how much people were enjoying themselves made all the hard work worth it. At that point, it really felt like NZMOBallers had become something much bigger than just a football tournament.

Millions of people around the world will be watching the World Cup together, celebrating together, feeling things together. A lot of men find it easier to open up side-by-side rather than face-to-face. Did you notice those kinds of conversations – which might not have happened otherwise – while playing and watching?

Absolutely, and I think that’s why sport can be such a powerful outlet for mental health. Whether you’re at a football game, watching at the pub, or just sitting at home with a mate, there’s something about having the game there as a shared focus that makes conversations feel more natural. You’re not forcing a deep sit-down conversation face to face, you can dip in and out of it while still enjoying the match together.

I think that environment makes people feel more relaxed and comfortable opening up about things they might normally keep to themselves, whether that’s work stress, relationship problems, or just life feeling overwhelming at times. Sometimes it’s easier to talk when you’re side-by-side rather than directly across from someone. The football almost acts as a distraction, but in a positive way, because it takes the pressure off the conversation.

Movember has a free tool called Movember Conversations, it helps people navigate those difficult mental health conversations with the men in their lives. If someone reading this article knows a mate who's struggling, but doesn't know how to start that conversation, what would you say to them?

Personally, I’ve always struggled with talking about my feelings with my mates or even asking them how they were really feeling. That changed for me last November when I stepped outside my comfort zone and opened up to a few close mates about some of the things I went through as a teenager.

By opening up first, it made the people around me feel more comfortable doing the same. Conversations became a lot more honest, and mates started speaking about issues they’d dealt with in the past or were still dealing with in the present.

What would you love to see come out of Men's Health Week 2026, specifically for Kiwi men and the football communities you're part of?

I think one of the biggest things is encouraging people to have more genuine conversations. A lot of the time when you ask someone, “How are you?”, the response is just, “Yeah, all good,” even when they might not actually be doing great.

That’s why I think the follow-up is so important. Asking how work’s going, how their family is, or if there’s anything new happening in their life can turn a quick interaction into a real conversation. It shows that you genuinely care and gives people a better opportunity to open up instead of just brushing things under the table.

What does football mean to you now? Is it still about the game itself, work, or more about the people and community around it?

I think for me it’s really about the community. I don’t really play anymore, I’m more into refereeing now, which I genuinely love. There’s something special about being right in the middle of the game, you still get the intensity, the fitness, and you also get to build connections with a lot of different players.

I try to enjoy games almost like I’m watching them at home. Most of what I referee is grassroots football, which I actually think is the most entertaining, there’s always something happening, and you never really know what you’re going to get.

When I’m refereeing, I try to show that I’m passionate about the sport. I just love football and I’m there to enjoy it in the same way the players are. Between my job at Wellington Indoor Sports and refereeing on weekends for Better Football or Capital Football, I’ve been able to meet a lot of people and build proper friendships through the game.

It’s got to the point where I usually know at least one player on each team, which makes it even better. You can have a laugh with them during the game while still keeping things fair and professional.

Check in on your mates. Watching the World Cup side-by-side is the perfect time. Practice conversations and ways to check in now at Movember Conversations.