A Glasgow man has launched a brand-new football team after staying active helped him heal following his wife’s death last year.

Christopher Moore lost his wife, Heather, in October and found himself shutting off as he tried to deal with the sudden loss.

(Image: Christopher Moore at Hillwood pitches, pictured by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) The Pollok man told the Glasgow Times: “Life throws a lot at us—whether it’s work stress, family pressures, or even dealing with grief and loss.

“I lost my wife, Heather, in October last year, and I know firsthand how easy it is to shut yourself off when you're dealing with sudden loss.

“When going through tough times, it’s easy to retreat and feel isolated. But I also realised that by helping myself - getting active, staying social, and doing something positive - I could begin to heal.”

(Image: Christopher Moore at Hillwood pitches, pictured by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) Though Christopher was lucky to have his kids around him for support, the 52-year-old knew that not everyone has that.

It led him to creating the Old Boys Football Night to offer people who may be facing challenges with getting back into the sport, mental health and loss, a place to receive support as well as an opportunity to get out, meet new people and keep active.

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Christopher, who set up the group for men specifically over the age of 40, said: “Football has always brought people together, and I wanted to create something for guys in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who might feel like they’ve drifted away from the game or don’t have the same social circles anymore.

“It’s about more than just football—it’s about mental health, friendship, and having that bit of laugh that we all need sometimes.

“Lots of men struggle in silence, but when you're out on the pitch, moving, laughing, and feeling part of something again, I'm hoping it can make a huge difference.”

However, Christopher doesn’t need to hope because the proof is in the team’s incredibly quick growth.

On opening night on February 7, 16 men turned up to take part and now, just a few weeks on, the team has close to 30 members.

“The response has blown me away,” Chris said.

He added: “The group is growing every day, and in fact, we’re even getting men under 30 asking to join.

“I get messages regularly from people asking if they can join up. It’s been incredible to see the level of interest and support.”

(Image: Christopher Moore at Hillwood pitches, pictured by Gordon Terris, Newsquest) The Old Boys Football Nights takes place every Friday at 7pm at Hillwood Community Sports Hub, based in the Southside of the city.

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Helen Corcoran, development manager at Hillwood Community Sports Hub, said: “When Chris approached us with the idea of this Old Boys Football Nights team, Hillwood Community Trust had no hesitation backing him.

"The premise supports the fundamentals of community engagement, social inclusion, and mental well-being, which are core values of the Trust and Hillwood Football Club, its anchor football team.

"In the couple of weeks that this has been running, we have received a positive response from the community.

"The requests to join this team, as well as enquiries about plans for other community-based activities, are encouraging and foster a sense of better community spirit.

"The laughter and banter heard from the pitch, along with the family and friends watching from the sidelines, are heartwarming. These men play a sport they love at their own pace, forging new friendships and creating new support structures, while also enjoying the physical and mental health benefits of exercise."