Queen of the South’s new kit has the potential to save a life, according to the club.
The all black third strip, manufactured by Macron, has been made to highlight mental health issues.
A QR code on the shirt takes the wearer to a mental health and wellbeing course developed by the League One club. It was debuted in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Peterhead at Palmerston.
Dan Armstrong, the community development and commercial manager, said: “We’re a community football club and we want to serve our community.
“We saw mental health issues are on the rise and it’s a taboo subject across the board.
“We really wanted to break that stigma so people feel, as a football club and a community, they can open up and speak about it.
“The top represents dark days and difficult times you can go through and we wanted people to know everyone goes through them. It doesn’t matter if you’re a footballer or a multi-millionaire, dark days can cover all that.
“Our mental health and wellbeing training course will hopefully educate people as well.
“The idea is that shirt could potentially save a life.”
The kit, which has taken nine months of planning, has gone down well with South supporters and the wider football community as well. The shirt is the latest project from the club to tackle mental health issues in the community.
Dan added: “The social media reaction has been really positive and it’s good to see that people are backing the message. People know that the fanbase from young to old, the boardroom, staff and volunteers are in it together.
“We’ve also launched the Changing Room project which is a 12 week programme aimed at getting men in their middle years to come out and talk about their emotions, feelings and football and mix them all together.
“Football is a pull for a lot of people, it’s a place they feel they can go and be comfortable.
“The food hub is ongoing and acts as a conversation point and we’ve got the Social South starting again which is a version of football memories focussing on Alzheimer’s and dementia and we’re trying to do our bit with that as well.”
Club captain Josh Todd added: “It’s a great idea and a lovely kit. Dan has done brilliantly, it was an excellent video the club put out and it’s good to let people know the team is behind them.”
