Ex-Liverpool defender retires with motor neurone disease
FOOTBALL WORLD SHOWS SUPPORT FOR DARBY, 29
Bolton Wanderers’ former liverpool defender Stephen Darby has retired from football at the age of just 29 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
the player, who was last in action in December, delivered the devastating news to his team-mates at a training session yesterday, as his club made an announcement.
Darby, who played for liverpool in the Champions league after coming through the club’s academy system, was given the diagnosis last week by a specialist after experiencing symptoms. Friends say they are amazed with the right back’s determination to tackle the illness head on. He is already understood to be making efforts to raise awareness of MnD.
Darby married Manchester City and England Women star Steph Houghton in June. the pair have been together for three and a half years. there is currently no cure for MnD, which involves progressive nerve damage, leading to muscle wastage. treatments to slow its advancement are available and sufferers — including Professor Stephen Hawking — have lived for decades with MnD, which is eventually fatal. Former Rangers midfielder Fernando Ricksen was diagnosed with the illness in 2013, while ex-Blackburn striker lenny Johnrose and Scottish rugby union great Doddie Weir are also sufferers.
‘It is with great sadness that I announce my immediate retirement from professional football due to a recent diagnosis of motor neurone disease,’ Darby said yesterday. ‘I would like to take the opportunity to thank my team-mates, (manager) Phil Parkinson and all the staff at Bolton Wanderers Football Club for their amazing support at what has been an extremely difficult period for myself and my family. I would like to ask for privacy at this time so I can adjust to the battle I have ahead and so that I can spend time with those closest to me.’ Darby, who is from liverpool, came through the ranks at his hometown club, making the first of seven appearances in a 3-1 Champions league win at PSV Eindhoven in December 2008. An England Under 19 international, he had loan spells with Swindon town, notts County and Rochdale before moving to Bradford City in 2012.
After 236 appearances for the West Yorkshire side, whom he captained, he crossed the Pennines to join Bolton in the summer of 2017, where he was reunited with former Bradford boss Phil Parkinson.
Messages of support have flooded in for the well-liked Darby.
‘It’s a measure of him as a person,’ said Parkinson of his decision to break the news to his team-mates face to face. ‘He wants to be up front about it.’
Matthew Buck, director of player management at the Professional Footballers’ Association, said: ‘Knowing Stephen throughout his football career I am sure he will face the future with the same determination and resolve he has shown throughout his football career. I have seen first-hand how difficult the last few weeks have been for Stephen, Steph and his family but he has conducted himself with a tremendous amount of dignity and bravery. Stephen has been a credit to his profession and myself and the PFA will continue to support Stephen in his battle ahead against motor neurone disease.’
Bradford chairman Edin Rahic said the club were examining ways to support Darby.
‘the news is absolutely heartbreaking,’ he added. ‘Stephen is a massive part of the club’s recent history and his contributions will stay with us for ever.’