Club backs Together Against Suicide with unveiling of suicide prevention bench through former player’s charity

• Tottenham Hotspur is proud to be supporting the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative for the 2026/27 football season
• Together Against Suicide uses the platform of the Premier League and its clubs to highlight suicide prevention support and raise awareness of information and expertise to those who need it most
• Dedicated Mental Health Officers from Spurs in the Community will be available to fans via a confidential text service at all matches held at the stadium this season
• The Club today unveiled a suicide prevention bench on Park Lane Square through our former midfielder Micky Hazard’s Legend on the Bench project
• The bench is dedicated to the memory of Spurs fan Joe Lyons, who took his own life in 2020

Together Against Suicide is a Premier League initiative, delivered in partnership with Samaritans, to support fans affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts, helping raise awareness of the information and expertise available to those who need it most. All 20 Premier League clubs have committed to supporting the initiative this season, following a pilot project last season in which our Club participated.

Every 90 minutes someone in the UK takes their own life, and one in four people will experience suicidal thoughts in their lifetime. Together Against Suicide uses the platform of the Premier League and its clubs to bring people together, reduce stigma and highlight suicide prevention support.

Two fully-trained Mental Health Officers from Spurs in the Community will be present at all matches held at the Stadium this season, beginning with this Saturday’s Premier League match against Everton. The officers will be located within the South Stand and proactively reaching out to supporters, offering advice and resources, while also reachable via a text service (07860 078 900) to meet confidentially with anyone, anywhere in the stadium, who requires support on the day. Free support is also available 24/7 by calling Samaritans on 116 123.

Last season, our matchday support service made two direct life-saving interventions with supporters, while referring many more to the wide range of external support services on offer.

As an additional way of supporting our fans, the Club has today installed a suicide prevention bench outside the South Stand on Park Lane Square through Legend on the Bench, a project set up by our former midfielder Micky Hazard.

The bench is dedicated to the memory of Spurs fan Joe Lyons, who sadly took his own life in 2020. Joe was a close friend of broadcaster Roman Kemp, the co-creator of Together Against Suicide alongside our own CEO, Vinai Venkatesham.

Louisa Lyons, Joe’s sister, said: "Joe was the life of every party - he left a lasting impact on everyone he met just from a first encounter. He was a genius in his own right and never failed to make someone laugh with his cheeky ways. On 4th August 2020,  Joe tragically and unexpectedly took his life. We had no idea how much Joe was struggling and how he felt this was his only option. As now a family of three, through the pain of losing Joe, we set up Joe's Buddy Line Charity: A mental health charity promoting and protecting the mental health of young people. Everything we are doing, we do for Joe, in the hope that no-one ever feels like this is the only way out. There is hope and things can get better. This bench is an incredible lasting legacy for Joe, especially as he has always been an avid Spurs supporter. I hope that anyone who sits on this bench learns about Joe, about how incredible he was - but also that if they're struggling, there are people here to help. Please stay, don't go."

Legend on the Bench was founded by Micky and his sister, Michelle - whose son Jay also tragically took his own life aged just 23 - with a mission to install suicide prevention benches in every local park or open space in the UK.

Each bench is equipped with a solar-powered light which keeps it illuminated through the darkness of night as a beacon of hope for anyone who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. The benches carry the poignant message that ‘Someone Is Always Listening’, along with a number of helpline numbers, including Samaritans.

Micky Hazard said: “Tottenham Hotspur has been a huge part of my life for 52 years. It’s given me memories, friendships, pride and a sense of belonging that is very difficult to put into words. But to stand at the club I have loved for more than half a century and unveil a suicide prevention bench - a bench that could save lives - is simply the greatest feeling ever.

“I’m incredibly proud and if just one person sits here on their darkest day, feels that they are not alone and finds the strength to take another step forward, then this bench will have done something truly remarkable.

“Football has the power to change lives on the pitch. Together, I believe it can help save lives off it too. And to see Spurs right at the forefront of the Together Against Suicide campaign is simply amazing.”

Vinai Venkatesham, Chief Executive Officer, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “The purpose of Together Against Suicide is to raise awareness of the prevalence of suicide, to de-stigmatise talking about it, to encourage those in need to speak to someone - which significantly decreases the likelihood of a suicide attempt - and to provide practical means to have that first conversation on matchdays.

“The deep emotional connection we have to our fans means that many may feel more comfortable reaching out to their clubs for help in the first instance than accessing traditional services. 

“We all ask a lot from our fans in supporting our clubs - this campaign shows our supporters we are also there to support them when they may need it the most.  When their own lives may depend on it.

“I’d like to thank the Premier League and all 20 clubs for committing to providing matchday support for fans this season, and Roman Kemp for coming up with the original idea that became Together Against Suicide.

"Football has a unique ability to bring people together, and it’s fantastic to see the whole football community coming together around something that can make such a meaningful difference.”