Sheffield Wednesday: Former keeper praises 'fantastic' Sheffield Wednesday for their handling of his mental health struggles

“I was buzzing,” said Chris Kirkland, reflecting on his decision to join Sheffield Wednesday back in 2012. “What a massive club. A huge club.”
Former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has spoken candidly about his mental health struggles during his time at the clubFormer Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has spoken candidly about his mental health struggles during his time at the club
Former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has spoken candidly about his mental health struggles during his time at the club

In footballing terms, it seemed a perfect fit. Wednesday, in need of a long-term replacement for the out-of-favour Nicky Weaver between the sticks, were a club befitting Kirkland’s stature; a former Liverpool keeper who had gone on to five years of success as number one and eventually captain at Wigan Athletic.

But it proved to be the start of a downward spiral for Kirkland, who’s private battle with anxiety and depression has been well documented in recent years.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The transfer proved to be a trigger for the then 30-year-old, who’s settled life in the north west was suddenly challenged.

Chris Kirkland said Sheffield Wednesday were 'brilliant' in helping his struggles during his time at the clubChris Kirkland said Sheffield Wednesday were 'brilliant' in helping his struggles during his time at the club
Chris Kirkland said Sheffield Wednesday were 'brilliant' in helping his struggles during his time at the club

“I moved to the North West in 2001 to sign for Liverpool and everything was fine then I moved to Wigan and it was the same, we lived in the same house, I knew my routine, knew I’d be home every night more or less.

“And then I moved to Sheffield Wednesday.”

Though Kirkland said he was ‘buzzing’ to take on the challenge of playing for Wednesday, who he described as a ‘massive, brilliant club’, there was some reticence at leaving Wigan. He signed for the Owls in May 2012 and as the weeks winded down to the start of pre-season his anxiety grew.

Within three weeks of starting life at the club he was considering walking away from the contract.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “As the weeks got closer I started getting anxious about the travelling and the being away. From the North West to Sheffield is a nightmare to get to – I started thinking about that and just before the first day of pre-season started panicking. I didn’t want to go in.

“I started to struggle, getting home, hitting traffic. It started getting on top of me.

“Straightaway I said ‘I can’t do this’ and we were advised at the time to say that Leona [Kirkland’s wife] had a problem and that I needed to be at home.

“I was going to walk away from the contract after three or four weeks.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rumours started flying as to the health of his wife and Kirkland spiralled. He felt he couldn’t come clean about his struggles in the macho world of professional football, an issue he believes would not be treated the same way today.

Kirkland, who played one game for England in 2006 and in 85 league games for the Hillsborough club over three years, praised them for their handling of the situation.

“The club were brilliant,” he told the Anfield Wrap. “Andy Rhodes, the goalie coach, knew there was an issue. He didn’t delve into it too much but he gave me extra days at home and things like that.

“They managed it brilliantly but it started to really drag me down, being away from home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In 2015 they offered me another deal. I just said ‘I’m sorry I can’t sign this, I need to be closer to home’.

“That was hard because it was a brilliant club. Aside from everything else that was going on with me, the people there were fantastic.”

Kirkland reached out to the PFA a year later and received treatment. He went on to sign for north west-based Preston North End and Bury, but he walked away from the game in 2016.

He is now an advocate for mental health and has helped to launch YapaApp, a social media platform designed to allow men to open up and discuss mental health issues without fear of stigma.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Mental health should be treated in the same way as physical health,” said Kirkland.

“But whether we get to that stage I’m not so sure. The issues are a lot more publicised now than they were in the past, which is good in raising awareness, but there’s still a stigma around mental health that won’t go away.

People will still find opening up and seeking help hard to do, so if we can help people do that through the YAPA app then all the hard work that has gone into releasing it will be worthwhile.”

More information about the Yapa App can be found at their website, or by searching in the appstore.