Beyond Rivalries- Head in the Game launch Captain's Armband Campaign

The Louth derby is one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes in the calendar for both fans of Dundalk and Drogheda United. However, on Friday night, hostilities between the sides were put to the side as the clubs helped launch this year’s Head in the Game Captain’s Armband campaign.

The campaign, entitled “Beyond Rivalries”, will once again see all League of Ireland and Women’s National League captains wear an armband emblazoned with the Head in the Game logo for the month of May- Mental Health Awareness Month. However, as well as LOI and WNL sides, all grassroots clubs will have the opportunity in the coming weeks to purchase a captain’s arm according to Head in the Game chairperson Dean Arrowsmith when speaking on The Town End podcast at the weekend.

While, in a press release earlier this week, Arrowsmith said:  

“We’re thrilled to launch this initiative again this year, and hope it raises plenty of awareness on derby night. Thank you to all in both Dundalk and Drogheda for their continued support, and thank you to the FAI for facilitating us and supporting us with this initiative for the second year running.  

“If it encourages one person to speak-up about the issues or challenges they face with either friends or a mental health professional then it is worth every bit of time and effort.” A former kitman at Oriel Park, the chairperson explained how the original campaign was established following the passing of former Dundalk FC videographer Harry Taaffe and that his daughter Orla was involved in the production of the warmup t-shirts worn by both clubs ahead of Friday’s encounter.

Drogheda United too, for their part, renamed their stadium Head in the Ground Park in 2021 and former teammates at Dundalk, Brian Gartland and Dane Massey, who are club captains of the rival clubs this season were involved in promoting the campaign throughout the week leading up to the game.

Speaking about the campaign, Dundalk FC chief operating officer Martin Connolly said “Sport thrives on great rivalries but we are delighted to work alongside our Louth neighbours at Drogheda United to try and highlight that a person’s mental health and wellbeing is more important than anything happens on a football pitch.”

While Drogheda United Chairman Conor Hoey promoted the campaign by stating, "We are delighted to continue our strong association with Head In The Game to promote the importance of good mental health. To work together with our friends at Dundalk shows that some things, such as looking out for one another, are more important than football."

When the crowd filed out of Oriel Park on Friday night and the home side left with the three points it meant both sides shared a derby win apiece this season. However, the most important result of the night was off the field and beyond club rivalries.

Head in the Game are an official charity partner of the PFAI and have established relationships with Jigsaw (https://jigsaw.ie/find-a-jigsaw/) and Shine (https://shine.ie/ )

More information on the Head in the Game campaign can be found at www.headinthegame.ie. The campaign has committee members across the country, including Dundalk, Dublin, Cork and Galway and its ambassadors include former Shelbourne and Dundalk defender Dave Rogers, DLR Waves’ Katie Burdis and Leanne Kiernan of Liverpool and the Republic of Ireland.