Club's social media warning in memory of young fan

A football club has launched a campaign urging people not to post negative comments on social media after the death of a fan.

Wiltshire-based Downton Football Club has teamed up with charity YoungMinds to launch the campaign after Alice Clark, the daughter of one of the club's volunteers, took her own life.

The club's 'Pause for Thought' campaign urges people to think twice before posting online.

"Negative words written about a person on social media can have a significant negative impact on their mental health," a club spokesperson said.

They added negative posts can cause "anxiety, stress, depression, and lowered self-esteem" if they are widely shared.

"Think how it would make the writer feel if reading the words about themselves.

"Think about how the words used might reflect them as an individual," they added.

Players will also take part a minute's silence before some league matches this year.

Club volunteer Paula Henley, who also lost a family member to suicide, said Downton FC held a special match on Boxing Day as a fundraiser for YoungMinds in memory of Alice, who was 15.

"It was really important, her family were all here. It was very well supported," she said.

"Her dad was actually captaining one of the teams and I think they really appreciated it as a family – It was very raw at the time.

"It made sense with what's happened here to engage with them [YoungMinds] as our charity partner."

The club's vice-chairman Rae Hughes said it takes its role with the community "really seriously".

"The least we can do is use our position in the community and our big social media following and spread the word," he said.

Over two consecutive weekends in the spring, every Velocity Wessex League team will be encouraged to pause for a minute's silence, with the final game of the season also being dedicated to the campaign.

Downton FC is raising money for YoungMinds, which specialises in supporting young people with their mental health, via its social media pages.

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