Frank Lampard & Three Urge Fans to Support Someone Else This Christmas

As part of their partnership with Chelsea, Three have launched a new initiative encouraging fans of teams across the globe to set their differences aside and support each other this Christmas.

Three’s longstanding mental health charity partner, Time to Change, recently found that on average, men have three fewer people in their support network since the pandemic hit, with many involved in the research pointing to the lack of social interaction that comes with attending football matches as a major reason for their struggles.

To try to encourage fans to be there for one another during a challenging festive period, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard called on supporters to cross lines set by footballing rivalries and reach out to those who may need some extra support.

“Everyone here at the club, together with our partners Three, would like you to support each other this Christmas - because this year has been tough on everyone," Lampard said. “And while Christmas time is a happy time for some, for others it can be incredibly difficult.

“Some people may be struggling with their mental health and can often feel isolated and alone. Think about who this might be in your life. It might be your Dad, who lives on his own, or a friend who has gone quiet on the group chat, or maybe even a teammate who doesn’t seem themselves.

“This Christmas you can make a difference by supporting someone else. Make that call that you’ve been meaning to make. Send that WhatsApp and check in on others. So, please support someone else this Christmas.”

Blues stars like Mason Mount, Millie Bright and Fran Kirby have all joined Three's initiative to encourage fans to reach out to those around them and support those who may be struggling by sending a text or making a phone call to ask whether somebody is feeling alright.

Aislinn O’Connor, marketing director at Three UK, said: “Christmas is all about giving back and helping others. This year has been so hard for many different reasons, with most of us having life as we know it turned on its head. Christmas in itself is going to be so different and it’s a time that can often magnify solitude and mental health issues.  

“As a brand with connectivity at its heart, we wanted to drive a clear message for us all to reach out and support one another this Christmas. Make that call you’ve been meaning to make. Send that message. Check-in on others. It may just be a small gesture but it could make all the difference.”

Guy Laurence, Chelsea CEO, added: “We loved this idea from the moment Three started discussing it with us and we’re proud that our teams and managers will be championing the idea to ‘Support Someone Else’.

“Everyone has had their struggles this year. While there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, we need to continue to support each other as much as we can. Christmas will be different for us all, but both ourselves and Three want to do all we can to encourage our fans and the football community to get behind this initiative and support each other more than ever during this festive period.”