AN Army veteran is using his passion for football to help ex-soldiers get back into work.

Tommy Lowther, of Butterknowle, in Teesdale, has set up the social enterprise, Sporting Force, which aims to help wounded, injured and sick service men and women make the transition back to civilian life through the sport.

The 33-year-old founded the charity last year and is now working with several football clubs across the country to provide work experience opportunities for veterans.

Work could include anything from ground keeping to hospitality and administration which Mr Lowther says can help give veterans the confidence to get back into work.

Through the scheme, veterans will spend four weeks with a football club while also gaining a Level 1 NVQ, employability skills and the chance of permanent work.

The father-of-two, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in Iraq, Ireland and Gibraltar, said he set up the charity to help others after his own experience.

The former 1st Battalion Light Infantry private, who was medically discharged in 2001, said: “I was diagnosed with PTSD about 18 months ago.

“I was hit by a petrol bomb while serving in Ireland so the bottom half of me was on fire and I have little burns on my face.”

Mr Lowther, who also served in the Metropolitan Police for five years, added: “What I’m trying to do is reach out to people. At the time I did not know what was wrong with me; I would have low moods and be depressed so I got sacked from my job because I was having so much time off work but then I spoke to Help for Heroes at Catterick.

“They saved my life because I was in a pretty bad place.”

Through the charity and the support of his family, including wife, Joanne, Mr Lowther was able to take a course designed to help veterans “find a way of life again” which he said inspired him to start Sporting Force.

Now he is appealing for any businesses or veterans to get involved so he can help others and even has meetings with Chelsea and Man United in the pipeline.

“Recovery through sport is massive because it gets the endorphins going but you don’t necessarily have to be a football fan because there’s that many different opportunities,” he said.

“If anyone knows a veteran that wants to get involved I would just encourage them to take that first step of picking up the phone because it might change their life.”

For more information visit sportingforce.org, email tommy.lowther@sportingforce.org or call Mr Lowther on 07739 763079.