Football at Forest Green will be made freely available on prescription to help alleviate symptoms of depression.
The plans, drawn up by GP turned MP Dr Simon Opher and Forest Green owner Dale Vince, the Ecotricity chief and Labour donor. The pioneering move will see patients at a dozen surgeries given the chance to attend games at Rovers for free, starting next month with the side’s first home game of the season against Mark Cooper’s Yeovil Town on August 16.
The initiative is part of a move by Dr Opher who has pioneered offering social prescribing to patients with mild or moderate depression instead of antidepressants.
Dr Opher told the PA news agency: “I do think there’s something about watching football which does give you a sense of community.
“I think one of the biggest problems in our society is social isolation.
“It’s really quite toxic, actually, and it’s created in the modern world by social media.
“Pubs aren’t so popular, we don’t get out as much, we don’t live in extended families, so that is very bad for you.
“You can quantify it, it’s the same health risk as smoking about 20 cigarettes a day. It’s really bad.
“One of the things here is just getting people out and socialising.”
He added: “Football isn’t going to be for everyone. Nothing is, but we need a range of options.
“Football is about socialising and roaring on your team, getting excited, taking yourself out of your own life for a short while, and living through something else.”
Mr Vince added: “I think it’d be a great thing if football clubs up and down the country could reach out to people and do this.
“Men typically don’t really talk about their issues, that’s the thing, and you get loneliness and things like that as well.
“In my life I’ve had periods of my life where I’ve been a bit fed up, and excluded … a bit down from time to time, it’s easy to spiral downwards when you’re not in contact with people and I just wanted to do something with that.”
He added: “Forest Green has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I’m keen to share that.”
