GRANT LEADBITTER uniquely enjoys legendary status at both Sunderland and Middlesbrough – but he will be wearing much more important colours ahead of tomorrow’s derby.
The 38-year-old came through the ranks at his boyhood Black Cats and played a huge role under Roy Keane in their 2007 promotion campaign.
Having followed the Irishman to Ipswich, he returned to the region in 2012 with Boro and captained them to the Premier League in 2016.
Leadbitter headed back to his first love Sunderland two years later and became the first player since Bobby Kerr in 1973 to lift a trophy for the club at Wembley when they won the Football League Trophy.
The much-loved midfielder hung up his boots in 2021 but is now back at Boro as Michael Carrick’s first-team coach.
As he prepares to head to the Stadium of Light and to the spot where his late father’s ashes are buried under the pitch, Leadbitter is now backing something else very close to his heart.
He is a patron of the If U Care Share Inside Out campaign that encourages people to talk by ‘getting what’s on the inside out’.
Fans will spot players from both teams wearing the If U Care Share Inside Out t-shirts in the warm-up before the lunchtime showdown in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day.
The idea is the brainchild of the Chester-le-Street based mental health and suicide prevention charity If U Care Share.
The charity was founded by Matthew Smith and his family in 2005 after his brother Daniel O’Hare’s death by suicide and it has provided prevention advice and support to families affected by suicide.
Leadbitter said: “It’s a very important cause to me and a lot of people from the North East. “Dan’s family started the charity in his memory and his younger brothers Matthew and Ben have dedicated themselves to raising awareness.
“In memory of Daniel, we are hoping to help other people, and that is so important. It’s about making sure no one else takes their own life and trying to get the statistics down.
“Both ourselves and Sunderland promote the charity every year and it’s all about creating awareness.
“On Saturday, there will be nearly 45,000 at the Stadium of Light with a lot more people watching at home, and if we can deliver a message, even if it’s to just one person, we could save another precious life.”
Last month Matthew completed a 700 mile to every Premier League ground to raise vital funds for the charity, running from Bournemouth, across the south coast, through the seven London clubs, before a gruelling leg to Ipswich, followed by the Midlands, Liverpool, Manchester, before landing at St. James’ Park less than three weeks later.
The aim is to raise £135,000 – with 135 being the number of people such as family, friends, work colleagues, health and emergency professionals – who are impacted when one person takes their own life.
If U Care Share co-founder Matthew added: “We would like to thank Sunderland and Middlesbrough football clubs for their continued support for the Inside Out campaign and giving such prominent backing to a simple message which saves lives.”
Visit ifucareshare.co.uk for more info.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
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