Latest news with #LukeChadwick
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Man Utd title winner didn't want to leave house after being mocked for his looks and got apology from Gary Lineker
The midfielder won a Prem title but admits he was never happy at United FACE VALUE Man Utd title winner didn't want to leave house after being mocked for his looks and got apology from Gary Lineker LUKE CHADWICK has revealed he was left battling depression and anxiety after being mocked for his appearance. The former Manchester United midfielder was on the books at Old Trafford between 1997 and 2004. 3 Luke Chadwick (middle) has admitted he suffered from depression and anxiety during his time at Manchester United Credit: PA 3 The former midfielder was ridiculed for his looks Credit: PA 3 Now 44, the ex-MK Dons and Stoke midfielder has opened up his experience Credit: Getty Chadwick came through the United youth system, winning the Premier League in 2001. He would go to play for West Ham, Stoke and MK Dons in a near two-decade career. Ahead of releasing his autobiography Not Just a Pretty Face, the 44-year-old has opened up about abuse he suffered as a young pro. Chadwick admits cruel comments about his appearance made him want to hide away in his house in the early stages of his career. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL NO WORRIES Man Utd identify £70m ex-Prem star as Bruno replacement if captain leaves He told BBC Sport: "As a 19, 20-year-old it should have been the best time of my life but for a period of time. "I didn't want to go to the shops, I didn't want to go out with my friends. "I would just want to stay at home because I was so scared that people would talk about the way that I looked. "I wasn't able to speak about it to anyone – not even my family, my friends – it was something that I kept so deep inside. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "I probably felt helpless, in a way, because I just didn't know how to deal with it. And I just wanted it to stop, really." Chadwick's anxiety improved after moving away from Old Trafford to join the Hammers in 2004. Ex-Man Utd player Luke Chadwick claims his 'stomach twisted' whenever he appeared on TV as he battled depression He continued: "It wasn't until I came away from Manchester United, and the spotlight's not on you as much. "I was able to rebuild my confidence and live a really happy life. "Football was always the place I felt free - the place where I didn't think about anything else." Chadwick also received an apology from Gary Lineker for comments made on the BBC show They Think It's All Over. Lineker was a team captain on the panel show, which regularly poked fun at Chadwick over his looks. The England legend wrote on X in 2020: "I was part of that show, therefore, I too would like to apologise to Luke Chadwick for any hurt caused."
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Man Utd title winner didn't want to leave house after being mocked for his looks and got apology from Gary Lineker
LUKE CHADWICK has revealed he was left battling depression and anxiety after being mocked for his appearance. The former 3 Luke Chadwick (middle) has admitted he suffered from depression and anxiety during his time at Manchester United Credit: PA 3 The former midfielder was ridiculed for his looks Credit: PA 3 Now 44, the ex-MK Dons and Stoke midfielder has opened up his experience Credit: Getty Chadwick came through the United youth system, winning the Premier League in 2001. He would go to play for West Ham, Stoke and MK Dons in a near two-decade career. Ahead of releasing his autobiography Not Just a Pretty Face, the 44-year-old has opened up about abuse he suffered as a young pro. Chadwick admits cruel comments about his appearance made him want to hide away in his house in the early stages of his career. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL He told "I didn't want to go to the shops, I didn't want to go out with my friends. "I would just want to stay at home because I was so scared that people would talk about the way that I looked. "I wasn't able to speak about it to anyone – not even my family, my friends – it was something that I kept so deep inside. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "I probably felt helpless, in a way, because I just didn't know how to deal with it. And I just wanted it to stop, really." Chadwick's anxiety improved after moving away from Old Trafford to join the Hammers in 2004. Ex-Man Utd player Luke Chadwick claims his 'stomach twisted' whenever he appeared on TV as he battled depression He continued: "It wasn't until I came away from Manchester United, and the spotlight's not on you as much. "I was able to rebuild my confidence and live a really happy life. "Football was always the place I felt free - the place where I didn't think about anything else." Chadwick also received an apology from Gary Lineker for comments made on the BBC show They Think It's All Over. Lineker was a team captain on the panel show, which regularly poked fun at Chadwick over his looks. The England legend wrote on X in 2020: "I was part of that show, therefore, I too would like to apologise to Luke Chadwick for any hurt caused." Depression... the signs to look for and what to do Depression can manifest in many ways. We all feel a bit low from time to time. But depression is persistent and can make a person feel helpless and unable to see a way through. They may also struggle to about daily life. Mind says these are some common signs of depression that you may experience: How you might feel Down, upset or tearful Restless, agitated or irritable Guilty, worthless and down on yourself Empty and numb Isolated and unable to relate to other people Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy Angry or frustrated over minor things A sense of unreality No self-confidence or self-esteem Hopeless and despairing Feeling tired all the time How you might act Avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy Self-harming or suicidal behaviour Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions Losing interest in sex Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated If you feel this way, visit your GP who can help you. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support. The following are free to contact and confidential: Samaritans, CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) Shout (for support of all mental health) Mind, Rethink Mental Illness,
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Man Utd title winner didn't want to leave house after being mocked for his looks and got apology from Gary Lineker
LUKE CHADWICK has revealed he was left battling depression and anxiety after being mocked for his appearance. The former Manchester United midfielder was on the books at Old Trafford between 1997 and 2004. 3 3 3 Chadwick came through the United youth system, winning the Premier League in 2001. He would go to play for West Ham, Stoke and MK Dons in a near two-decade career. Ahead of releasing his autobiography Not Just a Pretty Face, the 44-year-old has opened up about abuse he suffered as a young pro. Chadwick admits cruel comments about his appearance made him want to hide away in his house in the early stages of his career. He told BBC Sport: "As a 19, 20-year-old it should have been the best time of my life but for a period of time. "I didn't want to go to the shops, I didn't want to go out with my friends. "I would just want to stay at home because I was so scared that people would talk about the way that I looked. "I wasn't able to speak about it to anyone – not even my family, my friends – it was something that I kept so deep inside. "I probably felt helpless, in a way, because I just didn't know how to deal with it. And I just wanted it to stop, really." Chadwick's anxiety improved after moving away from Old Trafford to join the Hammers in 2004. Ex-Man Utd player Luke Chadwick claims his 'stomach twisted' whenever he appeared on TV as he battled depression He continued: "It wasn't until I came away from Manchester United, and the spotlight's not on you as much. "I was able to rebuild my confidence and live a really happy life. "Football was always the place I felt free - the place where I didn't think about anything else." Chadwick also received an apology from Gary Lineker for comments made on the BBC show They Think It's All Over. Lineker was a team captain on the panel show, which regularly poked fun at Chadwick over his looks. The England legend wrote on X in 2020: "I was part of that show, therefore, I too would like to apologise to Luke Chadwick for any hurt caused." Depression... the signs to look for and what to do Depression can manifest in many ways. We all feel a bit low from time to time. But depression is persistent and can make a person feel helpless and unable to see a way through. They may also struggle to about daily life. Mind says these are some common signs of depression that you may experience: How you might feel Down, upset or tearful Restless, agitated or irritable Guilty, worthless and down on yourself Empty and numb Isolated and unable to relate to other people Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy Angry or frustrated over minor things A sense of unreality No self-confidence or self-esteem Hopeless and despairing Feeling tired all the time How you might act Avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy Self-harming or suicidal behaviour Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions Losing interest in sex Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated If you feel this way, visit your GP who can help you. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support. The following are free to contact and confidential: Samaritans, 116 123, jo@ CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) 0800 585 858 Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) 0800 068 41 41 Shout (for support of all mental health) text 85258 to start a conversation Mind, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@ or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary). YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too. Rethink Mental Illness, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Man United title winner opens up on battle with depression and anxiety after being brutally mocked - with Gary Lineker apologising to him
A former Manchester United star says he used to be anxious to leave the house because of mockery over his looks. Luke Chadwick, who won the Premier League in 2001, says the 'abuse' left him feeling 'helpless' and unable to bring it up to anyone. The academy graduate played alongside the likes of David Beckham and Roy Keane but that status did not shelter him from mockery over his looks. Chadwick was the weekly butt of jokes on BBC TV show They Think It's All Over, something he has previously said would 'eat away' at him. Host Nick Hancock and Gary Lineker, a team captain, have apologised down the years. Chadwick told BBC Sport: 'As a 19, 20-year-old it should have been the best time of my life but for a period of time… I didn't want to go to the shops, I didn't want to go out with my friends… I would just want to stay at home because I was so scared that people would talk about the way that I looked. 'I think it was away from the game that it affected me more, and it was something that I became obsessed by internally, and I didn't like leaving the house because, in my mind, I would just be abused or teased about the way I looked when, in reality, that wouldn't be the case. 'My thoughts were to be vulnerable was to be weak - 'I can't show any sign of weakness' – when, in reality, our vulnerability is our biggest strength,' he says. 'I wasn't able to speak about it to anyone – not even my family, my friends – it was something that I kept so deep inside… and probably felt helpless, in a way, because I just didn't know how to deal with it… and I just wanted it to stop, really. 'It wasn't until I came away from Manchester United, and the spotlight's not on you as much... that I was able to rebuild my confidence and live a really happy life. 'Football was always the place I felt free; the place where I didn't think about anything else.' Chadwick, 44, has released an autobiography called Not Just a Pretty Face, sharing stories from his career. He is now the director at the Football Fun Factory, providing training and experiences for toddlers and children in over 50 locations across the UK. The midfielder from Cambridgeshire was scouted by United aged 14 and Sir Alex Ferguson rang his mother to grease the wheels of him signing up. He went on to make 39 appearances for United before spending time at Royal Antwerp, Reading, Burnley, West Ham, Stoke, Norwich, MK Dons, and Cambridge United in a career which encompassed all of England's top five divisions.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ex-Manchester United star Luke Chadwick on anxiety and depression
Luke Chadwick hit the heights when he won the Premier League with Manchester United, but off the pitch he was plagued by anxiety and a young player, he suffered abuse and bullying over his appearance that sometimes left him reluctant to leave the house."As a 19-, 20-year-old it should have been the best time of my life but for a period of time… I didn't want to go to the shops, I didn't want to go out with my friends… I would just want to stay at home because I was so scared that people would talk about the way that I looked," he 44, the Cambridge-born player has written an autobiography entitled Not Just a Pretty Face that details the highs and lows of his won the Premier League with United in 2001, playing alongside the likes of David Beckham, Gary Neville and Roy Keane. His career had started when he was scouted by United, aged an impressive trial, manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a phone call to his mother, requesting he who grew up in Meldreth, Cambridgeshire, was just 18 when he made his senior debut during the 1999-2000 season, after two years in the admits he went into professional football "naively", assuming it was how he played that was important, yet soon found himself ridiculed and abused about his was the butt of jokes on BBC TV show They Think It's All Over, for which host Nick Hancock - and panellist Gary Lineker - have since apologised. It was not a problem on the pitch itself. "Football was always the place I felt free; the place where I didn't think about anything else," he says."I think it was away from the game that it affected me more, and it was something that I became obsessed by internally, and I didn't like leaving the house because, in my mind, I would just be abused or teased about the way I looked when, in reality, that wouldn't be the case." A list of organisations in the UK offering support and information with some of the issues in this story is available at BBC Action Line As a young player, Chadwick says, he did not have the "emotional intelligence" to deal with it."My thoughts were to be vulnerable was to be weak - 'I can't show any sign of weakness' – when, in reality, our vulnerability is our biggest strength," he says."I wasn't able to speak about it to anyone – not even my family, my friends – it was something that I kept so deep inside… and probably felt helpless, in a way, because I just didn't know how to deal with it… and I just wanted it to stop, really."It wasn't until I came away from Manchester United, and the spotlight's not on you as much... that I was able to rebuild my confidence and live a really happy life."He says he was fortunate to have a loving family and girlfriend - now his wife - to help him do that. Despite the medals he won there, the attacking midfielder was not a regular starter during his time at Old Trafford, making 38 appearances and scoring twice."I think the reason I didn't have a glittering career at Manchester United wasn't because of the abuse that I suffered," he says."It was because I wasn't able to stay at the high level – I suffered with a few injuries and was never able to play at the highest level."He left United in 2004, joining West Ham. Later he would make 246 appearances for MK Dons, as well as having spells with Norwich City, Burnley and Stoke City. He finished his professional career with Cambridge United, his boyhood club. Chadwick now works for a company that organises fun football events for children and encourages them into the also works as an adviser for young professional footballers in the men's and women's says that while social media has brought players and fans closer together, it has also helped to facilitate "absolutely disgusting" abuse of players."You do feel more needs to be done by the social media channels to police that; to stop that happening," he says."But I think, as a society, we are more aware of mental health on a deeper level and people are more able now to open up about their problems and deal with them in a much more positive way than I dealt with mine, many, many years ago now." And he stresses that, for all its challenges, he feels fortunate to have played at such a high level."I hope people that read the book or hear me speak realise how grateful I am that I had the opportunity to do what millions and millions of people would love to do, of having a career in professional football," he says. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
