Feel Good City: Hemp and Kennedy on City’s incredible bond | OneFootball

Lauren Hemp and Alanna Kennedy open up about the positive influence each member of the City squad has on their team-mates’ mental wellbeing.

Manchester City and Feel Good Club launched a new collaboration in February to promote the benefits of football for our physical and mental wellbeing: Feel Good City.

To celebrate that relationship, Lauren Hemp and Alanna Kennedy were special guests on the latest episode of FGC's Leave it Here podcast, which exists to normalise talking about mental health.

Among an array of topics, Hemp highlighted the close relationships that exist in the City squad, and explained why she feels she can always turn to any of her team-mates if she needs them.

Speaking on the Leave it Here podcast, the England winger said: “I think obviously being part of a team is so much stronger than maybe other workplaces, because we spend every single day with each other.

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“I left home at 16, I still speak to my family every single day and have best mates here at City that I still meet on my off days because I want to see them.

“I feel like that sort of connection you have makes you feel more comfortable every day and if you need someone to lean on then they’re always there for you.

“It’s the same for a lot of our team, we have such a good connection, everyone in the squad, I feel like you can turn to anyone and say, ‘you know what, I need someone today’.”

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Kennedy, meanwhile, reflected on the nerve-wracking experience that every player feels when they first sign for a new club.

The Australian has made over 100 international appearances and played on football’s biggest stages, but admits the prospect of a first training session in unfamiliar surroundings can still be a daunting prospects for even the most experienced players.

“Women’s football’s a very small world so there’s usually at least one person you know, which always helps,” she added.

“When I signed here [at City] I had Hayley [Raso], another Aussie.

“I always feel like you’ve been signed because you’re a good footballer but your first session you’re thinking ‘oh my god I have to connect this pass’.

“The social side I find a lot easier, it’s putting the pressure on yourself to perform or do the job.”

Hear Lauren and Alanna's episode of Feel Good Club's Leave it Here podcast by clicking here.

International Women’s Day Event

To mark International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March, we will be holding a special event to celebrate women in sport at Feel Good Club’s cafe in the Northern Quarter (26-28 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 2EH).

Attendees will be able to hear from Karen Bardsley, former player and Girls Academy Manager, Charlotte O’Neill, Managing Director – Manchester City Women, Heather Leigh, Director of Product at Manchester City and more to be confirmed, on topics including working in football, mental health and the impact sport can have on physical and mental wellbeing.

Tickets cost £5 and all proceeds will go to Manchester City’s official charity, City in the Community, to help support its City Girls Programme, a project that engages female participants with free football training, leadership and mentoring opportunities.Tickets include a drink (beer, prosecco or nosecco).

For more details click here.