FOOTBALL Manager’s recent two-week free-trial period saw an incredible 877,400 total players pick up the management simulation video game – 600,000 of which had never played the game before.

During these challenging times, the game’s director, Miles Jacobson, gave a message of support to the Celtic Family, and to football supporters worldwide.

In a move which aims to help people struggling with poor mental health, Jacobson and the Sports Interactive team have also replaced all in-game advertising with links to mental health charities. Players in need can in turn click through, seek help and be heard by the charities’ trained professionals.

“First and foremost, for every Celtic fan out there: please stay safe, stay home, but also, stay strong! Because we all need to be strong for all of those around us,” said Jacobson. “We just have to try and follow the advice from the experts which is staying at home and staying safe. It’s tough for everyone.

“I think the hardest thing as this goes on, that people’s mental health could suffer, by not being able to do the things they normally would in day-to-day life. That’s why we’ve handed over all of the in-game advertising that we have in Football Manager to mental health charities around the world.

“We have seen a lot more people playing the game and a lot more people playing for longer. In doing that, we want to make sure that all of the consumers of what we do are healthy as they possibly can be. Having those ads in there, hopefully people know they’re only one click away from getting help. You can click on those adverts and it’ll take you to those websites and to people who are there and ready to listen.

“For many, Football Manager is an escape from the real world, and I’m very grateful there are so many people who are willing to escape into our world where football does continue. If it’s helping people out in any way, if it’s alleviating the boredom, if it’s helping people to stay at home, and not go out, then that’s a good thing.”

Football Manager video game strives to help people's mental health