Widows of Matt Beard and Graham Thorpe unite to demand stronger mental-health support in sport

Two families united by grief

Debbie Beard and Amanda Thorpe have met for the first time to share their experiences of losing their husbands and to call for better mental-health support throughout sport.

Matt Beard, the former Liverpool Women manager, died in hospital on 20 September 2025. An inquest has yet to conclude, although he is believed to have taken his own life. He had left his role as Burnley Women manager only two months earlier.

Amanda Thorpe’s husband, former England and Surrey cricketer Graham Thorpe, took his own life in 2024 after struggling with depression and anxiety. Amanda has previously said she believes he might still be alive had he received more support after losing his coaching role with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

A campaign for change

The women spoke to BBC business editor Simon Jack at an event launched by the Prince of Wales and the Royal Foundation. The event promoted On Your Side, a nationwide set of resources intended to make suicide prevention as familiar within sport as warm-ups, training and performance.

“There’s an awful lot of emphasis on the physical side of someone’s wellbeing, but not the mental side,” Debbie said. “That needs to be explored with people.”

Graham Thorpe’s decline

Amanda said Graham had been struggling during the Covid-19 period and was taking medication and receiving therapy. His situation deteriorated sharply after he lost his coaching job, an event he felt had blindsided him.

She said he became increasingly ashamed and isolated after a video recorded at the end of a difficult tour was leaked. “He was in this tunnel where he thought he’d messed it all up,” she said, describing a rapid decline in his mental health.

Although Graham attended therapy sessions, Amanda later learned that he had mentioned suicide during treatment. She said she did not know this at the time and felt he may have needed more intensive support, potentially including residential care, but the family did not know where to find it.

Changes that were difficult to see

Debbie said Matt had shown changes in behaviour in hindsight, including drinking more than usual and taking greater risks. His team’s poor performances and abuse on social media added to the pressure, while his dismissal came as a shock.

Matt often reassured his family that he was fine because, Debbie said, he did not want to worry them. She later learned that he had spoken frequently to his brother about his mental health.

Both women stressed that mental-health struggles can affect anyone, including people who appear happy, successful and well connected. Amanda said Graham’s illness left him feeling that he had lost his friends, even though those friends had not abandoned him.

Sport must notice the warning signs

Debbie encouraged people in sporting communities to pay attention to changes in colleagues, teammates and family members and to have difficult conversations early. She said coaches often develop close relationships with players and may be well placed to notice when someone is struggling.

The campaign aims to help clubs and organisations at every level build suicide prevention into their culture. For Debbie and Amanda, sharing their stories is part of an effort to ensure that mental health receives the same sustained attention as physical wellbeing.

Content warning: This report discusses suicide and may be distressing for some readers. Anyone worried about themselves or someone else should seek urgent help from local emergency services or a qualified mental-health professional.