A CRAWLEY Town FC fan of 42 years says the club saved his life by giving him a job.

Gavin Green was unemployed and had been rejected from more than 4,000 jobs.

One night, the 52-year-old posted on Twitter about having suicidal thoughts.

Crawley football club podcast host Ewan Dunlop spotted the posts and encouraged fans to help him find work.

Within three hours, Gavin said Crawley Town had offered him a job helping out at the club.

Gavin, who lives in the town, said: “Crawley Town saved my life.

“It’s absolutely true.

“I was in a downward spiral of depression. Officially, I had applied for 4,165 jobs over five years.

“Unofficially, it was more like 7,000.

“My job was looking for jobs. I was scanning documents all day long. I applied for all kinds of jobs, from senior roles to simple admin.

“Their first question would always be ‘how old are you?’

“I interviewed for one job they told me anyone could do.

“But a week later, they were still advertising and said they weren’t able to fill the post. That made me feel terrible.

“I would cry in my sleep, and I remember breaking down in front of my father. I was on my knees.

“I remember that particular night, I was totally overwhelmed by it all.

“I’d been looking at jobs all day, and it got to 1am and I was so tired.

“I got an email with another long list of jobs saying ‘apply, apply, apply’.

“It was like I was being taunted. I just flipped. It was so overwhelming.

“I shouted ‘I give up’. I was going to kill myself.

“I wrote about it on Twitter and fell asleep.

“I’d prepared to take my own life in the morning.

“When I woke up, I went downstairs to get paper for my suicide note.

“But the club had contacted my dad and he was there waiting for me.

“Now, the club, the fans, everyone’s rooting for me. They’ve saved me.

“I’ve ended up at Crawley FC which was always a boyhood dream of mine.

“I used to help out here for free, and I’ve been a fan for 42 years.

“I remember the first game I watched in 1977. It was an away game against Bognor.

“It’s strange. I’m feeling passionate already.

“Normally in a job you spend a little while finding your feet and working out what you enjoy – but this time, that passion is already there.

It’s my first week and I’ve already been involved with ticketing and hospitality.

“I’m working across the board. I only started on Monday.

“I feel like a great weight has been lifted.

“I still get thoughts about that time, but I’m looking ahead now.

“I’m excited for the future.”

If you have been affected by Gavin’s story you can visit www.samaritans.org or call a Samaritan on 116123.