QPR are showing their support to the Positive Mental Attitude Football League.

The P.M.A league was formed and affiliated with the London Football Association in December 2005.

The league was formed by Janette Hynes, Senior Occupational Therapist working for the East London & the City Mental Health Trust (ELCMHT).

She specialises in the area of Mental Health and is an ex-professional women's footballer, personal fitness trainer and level three FA football coach.

The P.M.A. football league is the first of its kind: a 'Mental Health League.'

All teams who are affiliated consist of male / female adults, who have experienced acute or enduring mental health problems and that are living in the community or hospital setting.

Through the 'Power of Football,' the teams aims are to develop and encourage individuals to use football as a tool to promote healthy lifestyles, whilst also addressing issues to increase socialisation, rehabilitation and well being.

The key to the success of this entire project has been its development as a local initiative which we have been able to transplant to other mental health communities in London and nationwide.

Janette's initiative clearly also addresses a glaring oversight in the absence of a mental health strand to Disability Football.

Following the success of the first season and through the support from P.M.A. League steering group meetings, 14 community Mental Health football teams have affiliated to the league and all are set to gain FA charter standard recognition and are in the process of applying for funding through the Football Foundation to aid financial support and to develop long term sustainability.

The league is now in its second year and is expanding quite quickly with 18 other teams within London and in the wider regions waiting to join. The league cannot expand if funding is not gained so any donations will be appreciated.

QPR are one of the lead professional football clubs to back this initiative, with Anthony Doherty, QPR disability officer, helping develop this initiative from the start over three years ago. He coaches the QPR community team and has recently been advisor to Ealing Mental Health Hospital in them setting up their own team.

Doherty said: "It is really important that more professional football clubs should back this initiative in working partnerships with their local NHS trusts and through football this is a great tool to integrate the individuals back within there own community."

PLACE YOUR BET & HELP THE CLUB