SOUTHEND United supporters will get the chance to meet manager Mark Molesley as the club shines a light on World Mental Health Day.

The Football League and Blues have come together with charity partner Mind to collectively mark World Mental Health Day, which takes place on Saturday.

With Mind’s Do One Thing campaign aiming to inspire people to make one small change to look after their mental health, the Southend United Community & Educational Trust has invited several participants from a range of their programmes – as well as community group Run Free – to Roots Hall, where they will look at how the mental wellbeing of supporters can be improved.

Nathan Carr, the media and marketing officer of the Southend United Community and Educational Trust, said: “The club and Trust are coming together tomorrow afternoon in the Blues Lounge at Roots Hall.

“We have invited people from various groups we run and the Run Free group. They will meet Mark Molesley and have a laidback chat about mental health, its importance and their involvement in the projects we run.

“The session will see us talk about how they can look after their mental wellbeing better.

“We’re hoping that Mark will sign things for those in attendance at the end and we thought this was a great opportunity for the new manager to work with the Trust for the first time.”

Mr Carr feels Blues, along with the club’s Trust, has a major part to play in helping those in the community with mental health issues.

He added: “We try to utilise the club where we can when it comes to helping supporters.

“A lot of people in attendance at tomorrow’s session are fans of the club, so meeting the manager and heading back to the stadium when they haven’t been able to for a number of months is massive for them.

“Mental health is a massive thing for us to support as a club.”

Club legend Frankie Banks, who founded the Southend United Community & Educational Trust, will also be in attendance at tomorrow’s session.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: “World Mental Health Day 2020 is arguably the most important one yet. The effects of the coronavirus have undoubtedly changed the lives and routines of many fans.”