I'd be depressed earning ?????????k a week to kick a ball about. What about the poor sods who pay to watch them kick a ball about.
More than three-quarters of professional players in England and Scotland say depression is a problem for footballers, according to a new survey.
Little more than year after the death of Gary Speed, who suffered from depression, a survey by Four Four Two magazine of 100 players showed the condition is a problem for many.
The survey also revealed that 26 per cent of those questioned had witnessed racism in the game, while 14 per cent believed match-fixing takes place, though it did not state at what level in the game or whether domestically or internationally.
In terms of depression, one League One player told the magazine: 'It can affect a lot of players. I know because I have been there.
'The easy route was to give up the game completely - I was in a dark place.'
Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said his organisation was devoting a lot of resources to tackling depression.
He said: 'It is an issue we have been dealing with now for some time and we are looking to ensure that people are aware of what support systems there are.
'We have a network of advisers and our own counselling service at the PFA as well.'
The survey also revealed that 43 per cent of those questioned said there were too many foreign players in English football, 62 per cent insisted a gay player would not be an outcast in the game and 50 per cent agreed that recreational drugs were used by some footballers.
Only 13 per cent of those questioned believe performance-enhancing drugs are used.
Comments
Not saying Danny is depressed but to break down in front of nearly 20k people after scoring the best goal I have ever seen live
Shows how much 1 injury problem can affect them
None of us know what pressure comes with earning that money or playing the game we all love
Three quarters of footballers didn't say they suffer from depression, three quarters of professional footballers said depression was a problem for footballers.
I could look at that for 3 months and not work that out
Clever lad 8+)
The fact is that 99% of UK footballers are NOT Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Rooney or Giggs, outside of the Premiership madness and the cashed-up Championship clubs - especially in L1 and L2 they are regular blokes who know they are one injury or loss of form from being on the scrapheap.
I was talking to an ex-pro out here (he played for Palace!) the other week and he was telling me that a large number of his ex team mates suffered post-football because they could never recapture the life they had when they were pro players, everything else seemed so mundane.
If you go back and read Garry Nelson's book 'Left Foot Forward' or the follow-up you will see he refers to a very similar situation for many of his ex-colleagues.
The situation is even more chronic in cricket where so many ex-players, including David Bairstow, Danny Kelleher and others have committed suicide because they could not cope with life post-cricket.
They know only one way of life often from the age of ten and then at 35 everything can be gone. If anybody has ever worked for a company which has gone through a structural / management change they will tell you how stressfull it can be. Imagine if that change is your whole life.
I'm sure there is depression in footballer, just like any other group of society. We had someone at work (building manager) who had a breakdown.
plus, money doesnt always bring happiness. just because people earn £x amount per week, doesnt mean they wont suffer from depression.
I can imagine that sort of pressure follows you everywhere you go. Doesn't matter how decent a person you are, the majority will have an opinion of you that you can't change. I can imagine that to be a very lonely spot.
Saying "Oh but they earn this much" is so simple minded and stupid, but then again I think Football supporters on the whole have just as many flaws in their collective make-up as players do.
I'm sure there is depression in footballer, just like any other group of society. We had someone at work (building manager) who had a breakdown.
Could it be some have depression but not due to something going on their footballing career?
Maybe have personal problems fans don't know about..
Maybe have personal problems fans don't know about..
Footballers don't have personal problems - their identity is purely that they play football and get paid a lot of money, and are happy all of the time.
Personal problems, pah!
Personal problems, pah!
There certainly is that resentment towards footballers who are highly paid whilst the general footballing public suffer in the "real world"
If one of your players said they were "tired" for example what would be the reaction...
Probably doesn't help footballers when you get Rio Ferdinand tweeting for people to "feel sorry for him" becuase he couldn't go out on NYE.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE THEN.......... ;-)