Oxford united FC
Inside the Kassam as Will Vaulks delivers emotional evening
With guests sat, including numerous Oxford United personnel such as Stan Mills, Michal Helik, Mark Harris, head coach Matt Bloomfield, and CEO Tim Williams, the stage was set for an impactful evening of mental health awareness.
Tuesday evening saw an impactful evening focused on suicide intervention presented in front of 150 guests in OX4, something that Vaulks and the ‘Can We Talk?’ campaign had been working on for some time.
“That’s probably why I’m extra nervous to do it tonight, to do it in front of the lads that you play football with every day,” Vaulks admitted.
“Obviously, they see a different side of me as well. I’m really grateful for them coming along and supporting.”
A sea of Oxford United shirts adorned the room to witness Vaulks speak alongside U’s head of PR and media, Ryan Maher, ‘Baton of Hope’ founder, Mike McCarthy, and its clinical director, Ben Wilson.
Maher introduced the night, guests listening intently as he spoke honestly about a friend’s struggle with mental health.
McCarthy followed, explaining the origins of ‘Baton of Hope’, the charity which aims to prevent suicide through proactive change.
An emotional McCarthy detailed his story before praising the work of the Yellows and introducing Vaulks.
“Thank you, Oxford United. You are pioneers.”
U’s midfielder Vaulks has done a lot of work already this year, going into schools across Oxfordshire to promote mental health awareness.
READ MORE: Oxford United CEO thanks ‘inspirational’ Will Vaulks
The 32-year-old lost both of his grandfathers to suicide in his teenage years which led to the selfless fire being lit which drives him to help prevent such tragedies from occurring.
Throughout his career, Vaulks has experienced highs and lows; from experiencing loneliness in Scotland with Falkirk, to securing his big break at Cardiff City, to scoring a seemingly winning goal at Wembley for Sheffield Wednesday which was ruled out for offside.
READ MORE: Oxford United quintet called up to World Cup qualifiers
His stint at Rotherham saw the former Wales international volunteer for the first time at a hospice, revealing to him the deeper issues in life than footballing defeats.
Amidst the sincerity and authenticity of the U’s man’s words of reflection and encouragement, Vaulks interspersed his talk with dry humour and digs at Sparky, offering an emotionally intelligent balance of heavy vulnerability with the familiar light-heartedness of the midfielder.
READ MORE: Oxford United’s Vaulks takes funding to three football clubs
Baton of Hope’s clinical director, Wilson, rounded the evening off before a Q&A.
The immediate impact was plain to see as guests put forward suggestions and questions, one gentleman even opening up about a men’s mental health group he had started elsewhere in Oxfordshire.
The passion and eagerness to make an impact that was sparked that evening is only the beginning as Oxford United and Vaulks continue their commendable work in the community.
The summer-long saga has felt more like a decade and surely head coach Aaron Ramsey has felt the same after enduring the ritual of being asked about Mills’ status on a weekly basis.
After missing the U’s first pre-season friendly, the winger scored in the second, a 2-1 win over Barnet, and featured in the following couple.
He then missed out in the first competitive game of the season, a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Leyton Orient, before a move to PNE was confirmed by Ramsey ahead of the League One opening day, but not until January.
Mills messaged his boss requesting not to play in the 2-2 opening day home draw with MK Dons before coming off the bench to assist Gatlin O’Donkor in the Yellows’ 2-1 win at Stevenage.
That would prove to be the 22-year-old’s final display in a United shirt, the young attacker showing little enthusiasm upon Oxford taking the lead in Hertfordshire, hinting that his head had certainly been turned.
“I’ve known about it all summer and from the start I’ve wanted to be here, wanted to get going as a Preston player and now it is official.”
Mills’ first words as a Lilywhites player say it all.
Considering the former Everton man has never scored more than three goals in a senior season, my personal opinion was that a January move would be ideal for all parties.
In an ideal world, Oxford would keep a star player for six months, Mills could get his numbers up as a standout player in a weaker league and PNE would get an in-form winger through the doors in the new year.
READ MORE: Ramsey says Mills departure ‘best solution’ for Oxford United
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge joins Tottenham Hotspur
But patience is a rare virtue in football these days and off goes the winger to Lancashire.
So, what now for United?
The U’s are without a recognised right-sided midfielder – young Aidan Elliott-Wheeler could be considered – and remain under a temporary transfer embargo.
Aidomo Emakhu has played on the right so far this season and has offered some outlet but he does look much more comfortable in his more natural position on the right.
Then there is 17-year-old Mo Missanga, a youngster who helped change the tide on the opening day against MK Dons and who has excited supporters and the U’s boss alike.
Ramsey has hinted that the Yellows are searching for solutions, and it is understood that a loan transfer where Oxford do not pay any share of the player’s wages could be a way of bringing a player in before Tuesday’s deadline.
Given the circumstances, it will be difficult to replace the ability of Mills but there is certainly a sense of relief that this saga is over.
Now it is time to focus on the football and maintain a strong league position heading into January.
Oxford United have signed Wales international Kai Andrews on loan from Premier League side Coventry City until January.
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Oxford United head coach Aaron Ramsey has insisted that Stanley Mills’ departure for Preston North End was ‘the best decision’.
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