Cromer Park was buzzing with football, family, and community spirit on Saturday, March 1, as the third annual Spoke to a Bloke Cup brought together players, supporters, and volunteers for a day dedicated to men’s mental health awareness. With 49 teams across nine clubs competing in the gala day, this year’s event raised over $12,000—surpassing its original goal and setting a new benchmark for the initiative.
The event wasn’t just about football. Hundreds of kids and families packed Cromer Park, enjoying a festival-like atmosphere with music, food stalls, and activities, all reinforcing the message that no one should struggle alone. A huge thank you to Northern Beaches Council for their generous donation, and to Manly Warringah Football Association for donating their flagship venue and providing referees for the senior games.
Players dig deep in tough conditions
With temperatures soaring close to 40 degrees on the pitches, players across all age groups battled through the heat, giving their all in the spirit of competition, camaraderie, and cause.
Co-founder Paul Dunn praised the determination and unity on display: “The effort from every single player today was incredible. They ran themselves into the ground in hot conditions, not just for the love of the game, but to support something bigger — raising awareness for men’s mental health. That’s what this day is all about. Football brings people together, and today showed how powerful that can be.”
More Than Just a Game
The Spoke to a Bloke Cup is about starting conversations and breaking down stigma around men’s mental health. With 1 in 5 men experiencing mental health challenges and 7 out of 9 suicides a day being men, events like this play a crucial role in raising awareness and supporting those who need help.
Funds raised from the event will go towards Spoke to a Bloke’s M.I.N.D.S and Mental Health First Aim training programs, which provide resources, mentorship, and mental health support for men across Australia.
From 8 a.m. until late in the evening, players young and old packed Cromer Park, lacing up their boots in support of an important cause. With teams across all ages and divisions taking to the field, the energy never dipped as match after match played out in the name of men’s mental health awareness. Off the pitch, the face painting station was a big hit with the kids, while the BBQ kept everyone fuelled throughout the day, adding to the community spirit that made this year’s Spoke to a Bloke Cup the biggest and best yet.
Growing Every Year
What started in 2023 with just eight teams from Harbord FC has now grown into a movement, bringing together 49 teams from nine clubs this year. With record-breaking participation and fundraising in 2025, the future of the Spoke to a Bloke Cup looks brighter than ever. Importantly this year, teams from Mosman Football Club, Harbord F.C., Brookvale FC, Curl Curl, ABH United, CC Strikers, Narrabeen and Seaforth F.C. made contributions to the event by fielding teams, showing the support from local MWFA clubs.
“This is more than football; it’s a community standing together to say that men’s mental health matters,” Scott Osborne, Co-Founder added. Ironically, the cobbled together Spoke team won the Seniors Spoke Cup with Co-Founder and team goalkeeper, Matt Sernig adding, “Next year, we go even bigger.”
Spoke to a Bloke has its biggest fundraising event, Walk for a Bloke, happening in 16 locations in Australia, London, Brighton, Zurich and a number of global participating locations on March 22nd 2025. For those in Sydney, the walk leaves from Spit Bridge and finishes at Watsons Bay Hotel. Registrations for all Northern Beaches blokes and women would be appreciated. Please go to: https://www.spoketoabloke.org/walk-for-a-bloke .
