When the Sussex Transport Community Stadium at Worthing FC lights up for StriveAid 2026, the afternoon is usually billed around retired global icons like Gilberto Silva, Sol Campbell and Roberto Carlos as well as viral content creators locking horns for charity.
But at StriveAid 2026, the biggest headline came from a grassroots advocate who suddenly found himself stepping into the legendary boots of Roberto Carlos.
For Andy Lindley, the transition from leading a local support group in Brighton to captaining a side alongside footballing legends was an extraordinary experience.
Yet beneath the surreal thrill of pulling on the armband and walking out alongside football legends lies a story of grief, mental health struggles and the role football can play in helping people cope.
After Roberto Carlos was unable to take part, Lindley stepped in to captain the team.
"From the minute I took Tim’s call to now, I don’t think my feet have touched the floor," Andy reflected with a smile. "I'm still trying to catch up with everything happening... Yeah, pinch me, pinch me."
Behind the laughs and the surreal thrill of playing alongside football royalty, however, lies a story of loss, grief and the role the game has played in helping Andy and other grieving fathers find support.
When Andy Lindley's Life Changed
The heartbeat behind Andy’s presence at StriveAid is rooted in a profound family tragedy. Back in 2014, Andy and his wife lost their son, Dexter, a heartbreak compounded by a series of subsequent traumas and heavy challenges shortly after.
Andy did not immediately recognise the toll his grief was taking on his mental health, and it took time for him to understand how much he was struggling.
"Stereotypically, I was probably the last person to realise that I was really suffering with my mental health," Andy shared openly.
Everything changed when he caught a BBC News segment featuring Sands United up in Northampton—pioneered by Rob Allen.
Inspired by how football could bring grieving fathers together, Andy reached out to see if he could bring something similar to Brighton and Hove. Given the green light, he launched a local chapter of Baby Loss United and never looked back.
How Baby Loss United Gives Grieving Fathers a Place to Belong
What started as a simple outreach on social media quickly snowballed. Today, the Baby Loss United WhatsApp group in Brighton boasts over 50 players.
While it was originally built strictly to support men navigating child loss, Andy has watched the community blossom into a wider support network for entire families.
"When I set the team up, it was predominantly to support men," Andy explained.
"But what we've found since is that that community's grown to men and their families. And we hear such refreshing, lovely stories about wives, partners, children, and siblings getting the men back in their life."
For Andy, the magic of the initiative has enabled him to create a space of empathy and safety.
"The game, our team, training, and the support network that we’ve got in place are slowly but surely offering these men a really safe space to be able to talk, manage or cope with their emotions. Just being around people that like you, that simply get it, is absolutely powerful."
Add in the unique dynamics of team sport, and football becomes another way for these men to build connection and support.
"Then you've got the camaraderie of team sports. You've got an arm around the shoulder one minute, and then you've got a kick up the bum the next minute when you've done something wrong while not pulling your weight. So yeah, absolutely fantastic what this beautiful sport has allowed us to do."
Why StriveAid Invited Andy Lindley to Replace Roberto Carlos
When the team at Striver read Andy’s story, the decision to bring him into the fold for StriveAid 2026 was instantaneous.
Recognising how Andy channelled his own family's grief into building a support network for other grieving men, co-founders Gilberto Silva, Roberto Carlos, and Tim Chase wanted to give something back.
For Andy, sharing the pitch with legends was an honour, but the true victory remains back home in Brighton, where every training session helps another grieving father find his footing again.
