An Antrim man is aiming high after starting a new football club whose aims include developing young players and promoting positive mental health.
Cameron Ward set up Belfast City FC last month and has revealed ambitious plans for the club including men's and women's teams and a youth academy.
The 26-year-old has also secured a partnership with Action Mental Health, with the charity's logo to be displayed on the club's jersey.
Read more: How to hit a knuckleball and other football science to improve your game
It is something close to Cameron's heart, having struggled with his own mental health in recent years.
Cameron - who is originally from Scotland - moved to Northern Ireland his wife Leonie last year, and that's when his plans to set up a new football team started to gather momentum.
"My wife, who is German, got offered jobs in Scotland and Northern Ireland. I said 'let's go to Northern Ireland' because we have never been here, and we have fallen in love with the place," Cameron said.
"That was about a year ago, and we live in Antrim now.
"I have always thought of starting up a team. I had been coaching with Ballyclare Under 21s up until Christmas, but I had a massive mental health breakdown, I don't mind admitting that.
"I went to some really dark places and told the club I couldn't coach at the time. But I got the professional help I needed and I am in a good place now."
Cameron says his own struggles led to him asking Action Mental Health if they wanted to be a charity partner for his new club.
It will see the charity's logo displayed on Belfast City's shirts for the year, all free of charge.
Cameron said: "Every year we want to do a thing where we give one charity free advertising on our kit. Action Mental Health seemed a good one to start with, as it is something close to my heart, so we reached out to them and they accepted our offer.
"Looking long-term, I would love to create a charity, the Belfast City Foundation. This would help people get into sport, and also get into work as well.
"And it wouldn't matter where you're from or what ability you have. We don't want to sit still, we want to do something good for Belfast."
Outlining the club's plans over the next year, Cameron said: "We aim to start with a men's team, and from next winter we want to have a women's team. My sister plays football in Leeds, and women's football is on an upward curve right now.
"And we want to get an academy started as well. We want to push as far as we can, and develop young players.
"There are talented players here but they tend to get a little bit lost. So I can give them advice and use all my experiences.
"I have experienced the highs and lows, and I have worked in that professional set-up. Clubs here have something similar, like your Linfields and Larnes.
"But we want to adopt a professional stance right from the start.
"The club will be based in Belfast and we're still looking for a home. But for the first while we will be playing our games at Mallusk.
"But we will be looking for a training area in Belfast. That will be the longer term aim.
"We are waiting to hear back from the Ballymena and Provincial Football League to see if we are getting in there for next season. After we find out the league we will be playing in then we will start recruiting players.
"I have had a lot of interest for players through Instagram, and some mates have identified players. We just have to see what league we get accepted into and then get a manager who is used to that league.
"Then we will bring players in who will make us competitive. I will be more of a director role, helping the manager where I can.
"I am doing my coaching badges at the minute, and I would like to get into kids' coaching and develop the academy.
"It is ambitious, but it keeps me from playing Football Manager all the time. Everyone says I am an encyclopaedia of football, so I might as well put it to use.
"I just love studying football. I am sitting here watching the Dortmund game, and I take notes as well.
"I'll watch loads of games, including Argentinian football. Anything I can find online, I will sit and watch it and try and understand the different styles and tactics."
The club is currently preparing for a big kit reveal, and Belfast City are looking for members of the public to get involved.
Cameron said: "We are inviting people from Belfast to get involved with our kit launch. We have been asking them to send in a short video explaining what Belfast means to them.
"All the best answers will get to be in the final video and also the kit launch.
"It is great to have Action Mental Health on board, and we have some sponsors signed up as well. If any other businesses fancy becoming a match day sponsor or helping out then just get in touch with the club's social media."
READ NEXT:
- Carl Frampton backs 'old mate' to be big hit in coaching role
Rory McIlroy in comical name change as PGA announcer gets it all wrong
VAR trialled in Irish League again as Stephen Baxter welcomes help for officials
Chris Morgan excited by Larne's title prospects, but adds word of caution
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
