{"id":300250,"date":"2023-11-23T16:39:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T16:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=300250"},"modified":"2023-11-23T16:39:01","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T16:39:01","slug":"ex-prem-star-admits-he-planned-his-suicide-at-height-of-bullying-at-aston-villa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/ex-prem-star-admits-he-planned-his-suicide-at-height-of-bullying-at-aston-villa\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Prem star admits he planned his suicide at height of bullying at Aston Villa"},"content":{"rendered":"

A former Premier League ace says he planned his suicide aged 20 following bullying torment.<\/p>\n

Gareth Farrelly, who had top flight stints at Aston Villa, Everton and Bolton, was one of Ireland's most promising young stars in the 90s. He joined Villa as a 16-year-old in 1992 and made his debut for the first team three years later, but his career was nearly stopped in its tracks amid a series of injury problems and what he described as a "toxic bullying culture" for young players.<\/p>\n

"I had huge mental health issues," Farrelly said on the Inside The Game podcast. "I planned my suicide at 20 when I was at Villa. It's not an easy conversation for people to have but I was extremely fortunate because I had people around me that were able to help me with that."<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Ronaldo was on brink of quitting football over 'bullying' and 'threw chair' in anger<\/b><\/p>\n

Farrelly, who became a lawyer after hanging up his boots, shone a light on the verbal and physical abuse that was rife in Villa's youth ranks during his time there when he spoke out in 2017. A subsequent investigation led to the departure of long-serving coach Kevin MacDonald two years later.<\/p>\n

The Irishman claimed MacDonald was "incredibly aggressive" and that the bullying, both verbal and physical, was "constant". He told the Guardian MacDonald's behaviour took him "to a place at 20 that nobody should have to go to. And I wouldn\u2019t wish it on anybody."<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Farrelly, who played six times for Ireland, left Villa for Everton in 1997, before later signing for Sam Allardyce's Bolton in 1999. Spells at Wigan, Blackpool, Morecambe and Warrington followed, as did stints back in his homeland with Bohemians and Cork.<\/p>\n

He retired in 2010, and although his bullying hell was long behind him, Farrelly says his struggles with his mental never completely left him. "I can sit here today as a 48-year-old having a very different conversation about [my suicidal thoughts] than what I would have thought when I was 17.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sky Sports is bringing you 500 live football games to watch, as well access to Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA and more across eight<\/span> dedicated channels. Sky Sports is the <\/span>only way to watch all the action this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a322 a month<\/p>\n

"I didn't have a mobile phone, where I could go into my contact list and speak to my sports psychologist this afternoon to discuss what's happened. There was a huge pressure on me. A young Irish kid, massive expectations and then all of a sudden, you're injured. The youth team coach is going, 'You're not playing, you're no use to me'. Physios are assessing scans, you're going to see specialists."<\/p>\n

*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24\/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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