Debbie Beard and Amanda Thorpe discuss loss and mental health at event

Debbie Beard and Amanda Thorpe met for the first time at the launch of a new suicide prevention toolkit in London on September 24, 2026. Beard’s husband, Matt Beard, the former Liverpool Women manager, died on September 20, 2025, believed to have taken his own life. Amanda Thorpe's husband, Graham, a former England cricketer, died by suicide in 2024 after struggling with depression. Both women highlighted the need for greater mental health support in sports, referencing their husbands' experiences and the lack of resources available post-retirement. Their stories were shared in an effort to promote mental well-being in sports culture.

• 5:16 AMYahoo Sports — Debbie Beard and Amanda Thorpe lost their husbands - this is their story
• 5:16 AMBBC Football — Debbie Beard and Amanda Thorpe lost their husbands - this is their story