‘We all have f laws
EXCLUSIVE ONE of the men who thrust Aaron Lennon into the Premier League spotlight at the age of just 16 insists there was never any sign of the mental health issues that appear to have enveloped the Everton star.
Kevin Blackwell, below, was assistant to Peter Reid at Leeds when the pair gave Lennon his debut in August 2003 – at the time making him the youngest player in the history of the competition.
On Sunday, Lennon was sectioned by police after they were called to an incident near the M602 and the player is still said to be receiving treatment at a hospital in Salford.
The news of Lennon’s distress immediately drew parallels with fellow footballers Clarke Carlisle, who admitted to his own mental health problems after trying to commit suicide in 2014, and Gary Speed, who suffered from depression in the years leading up to his untimely death in 2011.
Blackwell worked closely with all three. He signed Carlisle for Leeds in 2004 and four years later took Speed to Sheffield United as a player before promoting the Wales legend on to his coaching staff.
Now, after the events of the weekend, the Cardiff City assistant manager has been left reflecting on how random and unexpected mental health problems can be.
“There is just no indication,” says Blackwell. “Azzer [Aaron Lennon] came from a tough area in Leeds but had his brothers to look after him and they went with him down to Tottenham. He was always quiet and I never felt he believed in himself as much as he could have done, but you don’t survive at Tottenham for 10 years and win 21 caps for England without being a strong person.
“But people keep themselves to themselves and nobody wants to admit to frailties. Then, one day, there is an explosion. It’s sad.”
Carlisle has campaigned to raise awareness of mental health problems. In his time as chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association he helped promote their 24-hour helpline for current and former
players, and 160 people used the service in 2016. As a young, black man, Carlisle says Lennon “fits perfectly the demographic of somebody who’s susceptible to mental health issues”.
He said: “We need to step away from this ideal that footballers and popstars are non-humans just because we idolise their vocation.
“It doesn’t elevate them from humanbeing status. Everybody will experience down days and up days and you need to make sure a coffee and a hug or a chat with a counsellor and therapist is as readily available to them as Lemsip or paracetamol.”
However Blackwell, who in 30 years as a coach and manager has helped players with everything from disturbing family issues to marital guidance, says that admitting to mental frailties is one of the last taboos in the dressing room.
“Some things I’ve had to deal with, myself and most managers are not qualified for,” he said. “You have to be all things to all men, that is why it is important to realise as a manager that you need so many tools in your box. One of the main things is being able to deal with people.
“I did a sports psychology course because I wanted to know why players’ form dipped or why their focus suddenly wasn’t there. There is always something underlying. Does the player need time off, or need to spend more time with somebody important in their life?
“I have spent my time trying to help but often players keep things to themselves because they worry that they are perceived to be weak. And that will continue all the time that society condemns people for showing signs of weakness, especially on social media.
“Football is a macho game and you have to be a man’s man, show you can take the problems. You are up on that pedestal. You can’t have anything wrong with you. But we all have character flaws and problems.
“So why do people castigate players for showing weakness when all they need is somebody to talk to and somebody to understand them?”