Latest news with #LukeChadwick
Irish Examiner
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Luke Chadwick on facing up to abuse and lifts to Old Trafford with Roy Keane
Luke Chadwick racked up over 500 professional appearances and an immensely successful football career. But the majority of conversations he has - including this one - still revolve around his seven years at Manchester United and the 39 appearances he made under Alex Ferguson. 'I never get bored of it', Chadwick says. 'I'm not naive to think anyone would know who I am if I hadn't been lucky enough to represent the club and it's something I'm very proud of. I'm really grateful. The life lessons I learned helped shape the person I am today.' Chadwick can look back fondly now, but the scars from that period took a long time to heal. It was October 1999 when Ferguson continued his contempt for the League Cup and selected the youngest-ever side in club history for a trip to Villa Park, with wiry winger Chadwick handed his debut. The 3-0 drubbing saw Ferguson deliver a forceful post-mortem, reminding the novices that such a defeat was wholly unacceptable. Chadwick was dispatched to United's partner club Royal Antwerp and would wait an entire year before seeing first-team action again. But in Belgium, Chadwick's excellent performances stirred some media attention and after a major interview with one of the national papers, he raced to a newsstand later that week to proudly grab a copy. 'I couldn't understand Flemish but I skimmed the article nevertheless,' Chadwick recounts in his recently-released autobiography Not Just A Pretty Face. 'I froze when I saw a paragraph containing words and phrases that I could understand. 'Dentures a la Bugs Bunny'. 'Acne''. Read More Matheus Cunha completes move to Manchester United on a five-year deal Embarrassed and ashamed, Chadwick hoped that it would be the first and last time the media would target him because of what he looked like. It wasn't. After being summoned back to Manchester early in the 2000/01 season, Chadwick was frequently involved and found the net twice as United cantered their way to another Premier League title. He had earned Ferguson's trust, negotiated a lucrative new contract and should have been savouring every moment. Instead, he was struggling with his mental health, becoming reclusive and withdrawn and dealing with paralysing levels of anxiety. All because of an incident that occurred the night before a home fixture against Derby County. Chadwick, then just 20 years old, received a text from a friend, who congratulated him on his 'appearance' on the BBC's light-hearted sports panel show They Think It's All Over. In the pit of his stomach, Chadwick knew what was coming. He waited to catch a repeat and sat in horror as his picture came on screen and host Nick Hancock did the rest. 'This photo of Luke Chadwick was ruined…when Luke Chadwick showed up'. Zing. Chadwick writes in the book that despite being so embarrassed, he 'perversely' kept watching. And a few minutes later, Hancock delivered another insult. Luke Chadwick's book 'Iron Maiden's biggest hit is The Number of the Beast. And if you want to know the number of the beast, Luke Chadwick wears the number 36'. Chadwick's self-esteem started to unravel. He would turn down invitations from team-mates to head out and socialise, the numbing fear of abuse ensuring he'd order a takeaway and hunker down in his flat instead. He would even avoid shopping. But every Friday night, without fail, he would sit in front of the TV and tune into They Think It's All Over, agonisingly waiting for the inevitable mockery. Afterwards he'd sit in silence and wonder when it would all stop. Instead, it started to spread, from national television to magazines and newspapers. At one point, The Guardian described a blow-up between Ryan Giggs and goalkeeper Roy Carroll at a festive knees-up. 'Manchester United's Christmas party turned ugly on Wednesday night, though it had nothing at all to do with the presence of Luke Chadwick'. The media instigated the abuse and others were empowered. Chadwick was teflon on the pitch, unaffected by any verbals from the crowd. But, getting back on the team bus after away games now became a jarring experience. He avoids the specifics, but describes the toxic abuse from rival supporters as 'really awful stuff'. On trips back home to Cambridge - a consistently safe space for Chadwick - he started to hear the occasional smart comment. As a defence mechanism, he'd proudly boast about earning £12,000 per week. He admits the entire ordeal changed him as a person 'for a short period'. Years later, as the world grappled with the mental toll of isolation amidst persistent lockdowns, Chadwick finally opened up via social media, discussing his struggles during that period. Hancock apologised, as did Gary Lineker - one of the team captains on They Think It's All Over. 'I was never watching telly thinking, 'I hate these guys'', Chadwick says. 'There was never any grudge like that because I'm just not that type of person. All I wanted was for it to stop because it filled me with so much dread and shame. But I'm 100% responsible for how I feel. I didn't have the emotional intelligence to deal with it internally. I wasn't able to show vulnerability because I felt so embarrassed about it. So it wasn't about the TV show. It was about me and trying to stop how I felt and not knowing how to do that'. Chadwick is quick to admit his off-field struggles did not contribute to his subsequent exit from United in 2004, following loan spells with Reading and Burnley. Known for his pace, he'd begun to feel pain in his pelvis and hips. Surgery inevitably followed and when Chadwick returned for pre-season, he noticed a seismic change in his game: a substantial drop in his explosiveness. Roy Keane advised him to grin and bear it, that playing through an injury was part of the life of a Manchester United player. Ironically, Keane would be forced to retire because of a persistent hip problem. Keane provided plenty of counsel to Chadwick throughout his time at the club, putting him in touch with his solicitor Michael Kennedy during contract negotiations and acting as an unofficial chauffeur on plenty of occasions. Memorably, it was Chadwick in the passenger seat on the drive home following Keane's infamous retribution on Alf Inge Haaland in the Manchester derby in April 2001. PRESENTING: MUTV Presenter Luke Chadwick is seen prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium. Pic: Visionhaus/Getty Images 'That was a quiet car ride back to my flat', he says with a laugh. 'But he was the ultimate captain. Some players are just moaners, whinging about everything. And you never felt that way about him. It's hard in the moment, when he's shouting at you and telling you off. But you listened to him and understood why he was doing it. More than anything, you wanted to impress him because he was such an influence on the club.' Though there was plenty of advice on some things, few at United seemed interested in delving too much into the abuse Chadwick was still receiving. During a reserve game against Manchester City, he played poorly and was replaced. As he sat on the bench, confidence completely extinguished, the insults began from the City fans. The abuse was so bad, and so personal, that in an effort to quell the vitriol, Brian McClair - United's reserve boss at the time - turned around to chastise them. Chadwick describes it as 'probably the lowest point of my United career'. When he left the club and signed with West Ham, it was an escape from the goldfish bowl, the intensity of the spotlight. Chadwick never played top-flight football again but went on to enjoy an impressive career with Stoke, Norwich and most notably MK Dons. And he also developed the maturity to look back on his struggles with a fresh perspective. Read More Roy Keane: England players were having a chat like they were in Starbucks Chadwick is now director of the Football Fun Factory, a nationwide company specializing in using sport as a way for children to express themselves in a relaxed environment, and has developed the maturity to look back on his struggles with a fresh perspective. 'The understanding of self is the most important thing we can ever accomplish, really', he says. 'There should probably be more work done within that field when you're growing up to ensure you develop into a grounded young adult. My whole life was about football. And it's all you think about. But when something happens, do you have the emotional intelligence to handle it? With the abuse I received, I didn't know how to deal with it. And it's not just being about a footballer but on a wider scale. It's having a better sense of your emotions and feelings to lead a happy and fulfilling life.' Not Just A Pretty Face is out now and available via Pitch Publishing.
Scottish Sun
31-05-2025
- 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
31-05-2025
- 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
31-05-2025
- 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
30-05-2025
- 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.
