Football Untold hears calls for new independent player wellbeing network
Former PFA Chair says football needs to act to support players struggling with addiction
Last updated 1st Jun 2023
Former Burnley defender, and ex-Chair of the PFA, Clarke Carlisle has told our Football Untold podcast a new independent network for player wellbeing needs to be introduced into all football clubs.
He was speaking in a live episode of our new series exploring the darker side of the beautiful game, discussing what solutions could be put in place to protect player's mental health.
This series focused on those who've struggled with gambling addiction.
It was recorded before it was revealed Ivan Toney had been struggling with the same thing before being banned from the game for eight months for betting on matches
READ: Steven Caulker rejected by 70 clubs after opening up about addiction problems
Players reaching out for help
Carlisle told host Mick Coyle he is "consistently and constantly" being approached by players who don't know where to turn with their issues, over fear of the impact it will have on their careers.
He said: "They'll come to me and ask 'what should I do?' and its almost as though I have to validate what they're going through and I have to say 'mate that is a thing, and there is a way out of it.'
"What we need to do more is have people in the club who are there solely for mental health and wellbeing who are part of an independent network.
"Nothing to do with the coaching staff, nothing to do with the football club itself but a central independent support network that is in there everyday that has the opportunity to watch and understand players, observe changes in their behaviour, but also they educate them on a weekly and monthly basis."
Players unsure where to turn to discuss addiction
Former QPR defender Steven Caulker previously told the podcast his experience of opening up to managers and staff didn't help him get support.
He said: "There's a lot of conversations about speaking to coaches, speaking to Player Care, speaking to psychologists within the club.
"For me, I never advise any young people to do that."
Steven says he urges young people who ask him for advice about their own issues to look for help and support outside the game.
Caulker said: "That may be insulting to a few people, and I apologise to those who are offended but it's my experience, it's my truth.
"In my experience those who I've told in football - they've used it against me."
Other players we spoke to had a positive response when they opened up about their addiction to a member of their club's staff.
FA response
An FA Spokesperson told Football Untold: "We have a strategy in place to support the mental health and wellbeing of our employees and national teams.
"This includes providing access to specialist support and mandatory training and education programmes being delivered for our employees.
"Our relationship with Sporting Chance is central to the support for our England Men’s, Women’s, Para and Development teams, ensuring that mental health and emotional support services can be accessed by every England player when on international duty.
"We are also a proud signatory of the Mentally Healthy Football Declaration, which is a joint commitment across English football to support mental wellbeing and to encourage participants and fans to look after their mental health."
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Football Untold contacted the FA for comment.
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