A TEENAGE footballer with a Wrexham-based club is promoting a powerful message to help tackle mental health taboos.

Jordan Wright features in a short film which was produced for the charity MIND to promote World Mental Health Day last month.

The three-minute clip has proved a big hit on social media and has helped highlight the work of Jordan's club Belle Vue FC who were formed last year with the aim of offering opportunities for the disadvantaged to play football.

Jordan, who attended St. Christopher's School in Wrexham, has learning difficulties which have also triggered mental health issues.

But the brave 17-year-old was keen to publicise the work of MIND and the video was filmed in several locations, including Bellevue Park where he plays with his team mates in the North East Wales League.

"We got approached by a film maker Percy Dean, who does a lot of work with charities, and he was looking for someone he could feature for MIND," outlined Belle Vue FC secretary and manager Delwyn Derrick

"Jordan's problems can have an impact on his mental health. You often find that people with learning difficulties are at a much higher risk of suffering from issues. Jordan was quite quiet when he first came to us and he would hover around in the background and not join in.

"But we've really noticed how he is starting to find his confidence and he is speaking up a bit more. It has been good to see his transformation and taking part in the film has been really good for him too."

Delwyn says the club spotted Jordan's talent while was playing for the Wrexham Inclusion team and he has proved to be a key member of a side where the ethos, as stated in the MIND film, is "not about winning or losing, but the taking part".

"Jordan played against us for Wrexham Inclusion and really stood out, so we asked him if he would like to play in the league with us," recalled Delwyn. "He didn't seem sure but then he just turned up at the start of pre-season and it has gone from there. He's played every 90 minutes of every game and he is the first name on the team sheet.

"He is quick and very calm on the ball."

Bellevue's vision when it was formed by Delwyn and its others founder last year was to provide migrant workers and members of ethnic communities a chance to play competitive football. But he says recruitment has now been opened up to include others in adversity, including those with mental health problems.

Togetherness and team spirit is the club's motto rather than winning, although Delwyn says he has set his players a ten-point target for this season's campaign.

Bellevue currently lie third from bottom in the league with two wins from their ten games, but their six-point haul is five better than they managed in the whole of last season.

"We would love to win more matches, but in the same way it is more important that we come off the pitch and are still together after a loss," said Delwyn, who says Bellevue are looking for a new evening training base outside Bellevue Park. "It is all about team building and if we can win some games as well then fine."

To see Jordan in action for Bellevue FC go to https://twitter.com/MundialMag/status/1056564780746620929/video/1