Olly Monk, co-founder of Angels United, expressed his surprise at the overwhelming growth of the club, stating, “Since we started this club nobody wants to be a part of, it’s grown bigger than we ever expected.” The genesis of the club can be traced back to the stillbirth of Olly’s daughters, Poppy and Dotty, in 2020. This tragic event brought together a group of men from Manchester who shared a common bond of not just their love for football, but also the experience of losing a child.
What began as a WhatsApp chat among 13 fathers on 25 October 2021, as an extension of an online Covid support group, has now burgeoned to over 50 members. Angels United gathers every Tuesday night at Wright Robinson College in Gorton, providing a space for fathers who have lost children to come together, find support, and share their stories. The group also convenes on Sundays for matches in different locations, donning shirts emblazoned with the names of their children, a poignant tribute to their lost loved ones.
The club’s success has been marked by memorial matches against Sands United, a national baby loss group, and accolades at the Manchester FA Grassroots football awards in 2024, where they were honored by England and Manchester United player, Ella Toone. Reflecting on their journey, Olly mentioned, “Even though in an ideal world you’d never want to be involved with this kind of thing, I know I’ve got friends for life. When you go, you know people will be there to pick you up from the lowest of lows and help you climb back up.”
In a bid to expand the scope of their support beyond football, Angels United is launching WalkNTalk sessions at Heaton Park, where players and their families can gather for walks and conversations. Ed Growden, who joined the club in June 2023 after the loss of his son Shay, highlighted the emotional significance of being part of the team. He emphasized, “When we play the games we’re playing for the names of our children on the back of our shirt. My son Shay will never get to play the game of football, but every time I step on to the pitch I feel like I’m playing for him, with so much pride.
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