Albion Rovers striker David Cox retires after alleged mental health taunt
The 32-year old left their match against Stenhousemuir at half-time following the alleged remark
Last updated 24th May 2021
by Andrew Maclean
Albion Rovers striker David Cox says he is quitting football after claiming an opposition player taunted him about his mental health issues.
The 32-year old is alleging a Stenhousemuir player made the remark in Thursday's League Two clash.
Cox has spoken openly about his off-the-field struggles in the past and says this latest incident is serious enough for him to retire from the sport.
In a social media video, Cox said: "The second half is just starting, Albion Rovers and Stenhousemuir. I have left the stadium.
"I wasn't playing tonight I was on the bench, one of the boys on the Stenny team - we were having a wee bit of to-and-fro on the bench and they had a wee go at my mental health. Told me I should have done it right the first time.
"So I promised myself the next time it happened I'd walk off the park. Obviously I wasn't playing (but) I am done with football, completely.
"Some folk might not think it's a big deal, I'm f*g fed up listening to it.
"Don't get paid enough for it and they'd put me on the park I'd probably have broken the boy's legs deliberately.
"I tried to speak to the referees about it, they didn't want to know because they didn't hear it. Same s*** we're talking about all the time, we talk about racism and the personal issues that get brought up in football, but if it's not heard by officials or whatever there's nothing they can do about it.
"So I'm going to do something about it and for me it's leaving the game. I'm done with it.
"It wasn't of the reasons I wasn't going back to football, I did in January but I'm done with it.
"Because I either keep playing and I'm going to batter somebody on the park, which will result in me being the bad one.
"Once he was called out on it he knew what he said and tried to deny it.
"Nothing gets done about it, nothing is going to get done about it. Football is full of s** with the things that they say and it's going to continue to happen.
"So, aye, I'm done. Hanging the boots up for good. I've just walked away there, I'm off in the middle of the game. I'm not doing it."
Stenhousemuir say they are aware of the incident and will cooperate with the Scottish FA in an investigation.
In a club statement they said: "The club is aware of a verbal altercation that took place between players from both Stenhousemuir and Albion Rovers during tonight’s match. We have spoken to the players involved, David Cox (Albion Rovers) who was on the bench, and Jonathan Tiffoney (Stenhousemuir) who was playing.
"Both players are making claims of serious and wholly inappropriate comments being made during the game that have implications for player wellbeing and mental health.
"Whilst we accept that things can get said during a game, we believe the allegations are sufficiently serious enough to merit a more detailed investigation. We will be referring this to the Scottish FA tomorrow and will work with them and our colleagues at Albion Rovers to investigate the incident".