TOUGH CHIMES... BUT POMPEY KEEN TO PLAY UP
ONCE rated the best goalkeeper of his generation, Chris Kirkland is now more concerned about helping to save lives rather than keeping clean sheets.
The former Liverpool and England stopper (below), who has been close to the edge with his own mental issues, has issued an invitation via Twitter for people suffering from anxiety and depression to message him with their telephone number.
They can then expect a swift FaceTime response, with Kirkland on hand to offer help, advice and a listening ear for those stuck in a dark tunnel of despair.
“I was going to start in January, but the requests have been piling in, so I thought why wait until then? So I’ve been speaking to people over the last week or so,” said Kirkland, aware of the effects of Covid and lockdowns.
“They say one in four people have mental issues – that’s rubbish. I’d say it’s more like three in four, particularly over this last year.
“Just driving to our game at Colne recently, where I’m the goalkeeping coach, I pulled into a garage for petrol and coffee and I couldn’t help notice people’s faces. You can see the strain and upset all over them.
“I must have seen about 20 people, but not one smile during the time I filled the car up and paid. I know everyone’s wearing masks, but you can just see it in their eyes
– the shoulders are down and people are worried.
“It sparked me into thinking let’s do these calls again where I invite people to direct message me on
Twitter if they want a conversation because they are having problems.
“I call them on
FaceTime because
I think it’s far better to see somebody’s face, you can see their expressions. Once we start talking, it helps relax them. It also helps me as well.”
Because the 39-year-old, who is also involved with the Liverpool Foundation and the club’s TV station, has been there.
“It probably first hit me when I was at Sheffield Wednesday, five or six years ago,” he admitted.
“Until then, I had no issues
BILL SHANKLY famously quipped that football was not a matter of life or death – it was more important than that.
But, after the events of 2020, Mark Catlin, chief executive of Portsmouth, would beg to differ.
The south coast club have played only two matches in front of supporters at Fratton Park since March and Catlin (right) believe it is when fans do return to one of the country’s most atmospheric grounds that the true cost of
Covid will become clear. “I know so whatsoever. I had left Wigan and didn’t really want to leave the Liverpool area I was living in.
“I was travelling, too, and from Sheffield, which isn’t the easiest of journeys. They were long hours and I was missing my family. “I found myself becoming quieter and, with things happening in your life without any warning, you start spiralling out of control.
“But, at first, I wasn’t admitting anything. It’s really only in the last 18 months or so that mental health issues have been accepted and people aren’t embarrassed to talk and admit what is going on in their head.
“Turn on the radio or TV and there is always something many people who have lost loved ones this year,” he said.
“Especially in the extended family of Pompey fans. We have lost supporters, season-ticket holders, people I have known throughout my time here. It has been very distressing.
“We get asked questions about the football, but, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that important – it’s really not.
“I’ve seen a massive uptick in people suffering from mental health problems too. So many people I know are suffering with now based around mental health. It is what’s needed. People shouldn’t have been embarrassed to talk about mental issues in the past, but they were. I was a prime example of that.
“You also kid yourself that it will soon pass over – and you will be OK. You actually slip back and back until, unfortunately, some people get into such a bad state that they don’t know where to turn – and commit suicide.
“I got to that point, but, thankfully, managed to pull it round. I went to Parkland Place in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, a rehabilitation centre. I stayed there and they were great.
“They saved my life. I still go there every fortnight to talk to some of the guests there.”
But it is the poignant phone calls which bring hope to the sufferers.
“I just let them talk about whatever they want,” he explained.
“Once they know who I am, the conversation often involves football. depression. It’s something we’re keeping an eye on as a club.
“Football has the ability to lift the mood of the communities they operate in. My wife is a Scouser and a Liverpool fan.
“I remember, during the 80s and 90s, if Liverpool lost a game, they wouldn’t even open their curtains for the day.
“Portsmouth is exactly the same – it’s the heartbeat of the city.” Despite everything
But it’s whatever they want to talk about, it’s about getting them talking and that makes them open up more.
“I’m not going to lie, some of the calls are really tough. I can give them places to ring, like Samaritans or other helpful organisations. It’s letting them know that there are people there for them.
“They could have been struggling with anxiety for some time, although I’ve noticed that for quite a few their worries started recently and are connected with all the uncertainty that Covid has produced. “It’s brought about panic attacks, real anxious moments.
“I can help because I’ve gone through this and still have my moments now.
“For me, it’s about exercising and talking and a third one is listening to calming music or soothing sounds, like hearing the sea.
“I’ve done shutting the doors, else going on, Pompey have been able to put a smile on the face of those who would ordinarily be coming through the Fratton Park turnstiles on matchday.
Before their festive fixtures against Swindon and Bristol Rovers were cancelled, as a result of five members of the playing staff testing positive for Covid, Catlin’s side were sitting at the top of the league. Whether that league shutting the blinds, I’ve been through all that in the past and it doesn’t help. At the time, though, you think it’s the only thing you can do.
“I still have my bad days now. The past couple of days have been testing. You wake up in the morning and it’s Groundhog Day.”
And the fact that it’s been a stop-start season for Northern Premier League Colne FC has not helped Kirkland, who was part of Liverpool’s 2005 Champions Leaguewinning squad and also played for Wigan and Sheffield Wednesday.
“We’re in the same league as Marine and were the last team to beat them,” he added. “We won 2-1 there. After that, they haven’t lost a game and will be playing Spurs in the FA Cup. We gave them a kick up the backside.
“Listen, I’m not going to sit here and say I don’t suffer – because I still do. I know some people have admitted to feeling flat, well, that can lead to depression. That’s where I come in, talking and offering advice.” will be suspended at some stage in January remains to be seen.
League One has been badly impacted by an increasing number of cases within its clubs.
But Catlin takes pride in his players’ attitude, and said: “Our squad, for the last four months, have been living on the road or at the training ground or the game.
“It has been absolutely constant. But if you speak to them, you wouldn’t get any of them moaning about that.
“It’s their job, it’s what they want to do – it’s their passion.”