Hazard and fellow Legends attend launch of mental health initiative

A number of our iconic ex-players joined former team-mate Micky Hazard to support the launch of the midfielder’s Legend on the Bench initiative in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire this week.

The goal of the project, for which Micky serves as Ambassador, is to combat mental health issues and prevent suicide in society by installing benches in public parks, each one equipped with immediate access to help via a host of professional support groups and charities through a QR code that can be scanned by anyone using the bench at any time.

Micky was joined by Pat Jennings, Ossie Ardiles and David Howells, along with former Luton Town player Brian Stein and Tony Mortimer from pop band East 17, to formally unveil the first bench at Bullfields Park in Sawbridgeworth on Monday.

Not only does the inaugural bench carry the QR code for support access, but it also acts as a memorial to Micky’s nephew Jay, a Sawbridgeworth resident who took his own life in 2019 at the age of 23. Micky himself previously lived in the town and coached local youngsters for a spell.

“This cause is particularly important to me and my family because of what happened to my sister’s 23-year-old son,” explained Micky, who won the 1982 FA Cup and 1984 UEFA Cup during a glittering playing career with us. “Mental health problems are very real in society and are sometimes overlooked because we can’t physically see them. The Legend on the Bench initiative is designed to give everybody, no matter who you are, a place to go, to sit and think and to access immediate assistance from people who specialise in dealing with this sort of thing.

“Often, people need someone to listen to them and to understand what they’re going through and this is what we’re aiming to facilitate in parks all around the country. This first bench is there as a memorial to Jay, but also something that we hope will save lives. Everybody who has helped to build and install the bench has been amazing and it was unbelievable to have Pat, Ossie, David, Brian and Tony here as well to offer their support – it shows what great people they are and I’m thankful to everyone who has played a part to get this initiative up and running.”