Bellers - I couldnt give a shit about football

I think most people knew this below.



By Simon Wright, Dominic Herbert Sep 2012



"Losing my best mate destroyed my marriage": Craig Bellamy reveals how his life fell apart after Gary Speed's death

Former ­Manchester City and Liverpool striker says he's going through "the worst time ever" and "doesn't give a s*** about football"


Disillusioned: Bellamy leaves after three hours training with Cardiff City
Sunday Mirror
Football star Craig Bellamy has tearfully revealed how his marriage is over, saying: “It’s the worst time in my life ever.”

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, the former ­Manchester City and Liverpool striker tells how the death of close friend Gary Speed left him so heartbroken it destroyed his relationship with wife Claire.

The Cardiff City player has now moved out the £2million home he shared with his childhood sweetheart and their three children, saying he no longer cares about football.

“I’ve been living on my own for eight weeks now,” he says. “There’s no one else involved. I wish there was. I wish I had someone and I wish she (Claire) had someone. That would make it easier.

“It’s hit me hard. It’s nothing to do with football and it’s nothing to do with me as a footballer. I couldn’t give a s*** about football.

“It’s about real people, human ­beings, kids and families. I can’t tell you how hard it is. It’s the worst time in my life ever.”

Speaking at the flat he has rented just outside the city, tears fill his eyes as he speaks about Speed, 42, who was found ­hanging in the garage of his home in Cheshire last November.


Best mates: Gary Speed is congratulated by teammate Bellamy after scoring for Newcastle
The father of two was Bellamy’s former boss at Cardiff City and also used to play with him at ­Newcastle.

“Losing my best mate has affected everything,” Bellamy says. “I can’t believe how hard it is. It has had an effect on everything.

“He was the best mate I’ve ever had. It’s sad but unfortunately it got to my ­marriage. I’m here and she’s there.

“I don’t know if that’s it for us. All I know is that my best mate has gone. I’m ­struggling. I can’t lie.”

His comments come only weeks after he starred at the Olympics as captain of Team GB. He bravely put aside his ­personal ­heartache as he led the team as far as the ­quarter finals.

Bellamy, 33, known as the bad boy of ­football, first started going out with Claire, also 33, when they were schoolchildren and they married in 2006.

He has often spoken of how important his wife and three children are to him.

“I surround myself with family,” he said last August. “I have got the most ­incredible wife in the world and ­unbelievable kids.”



Happier times: Craig and Claire got together when they were still at school
And in an interview last year he spoke revealingly about how he often suffered from homesickness while away playing for his team.

“I spent nights crying myself to sleep,” he said. “I look at ­everything I have. I look at my children and everything I have is due to that. Now even if I spend Friday night away in a hotel, just one night, I can’t wait to get home.

“Before I would spend all my hours at training, come home, sleep, eat, watch ­football, sleep and go back to training the next day. Now I do the school run, train, pick up my daughter. I am ­living in the real world. I am a father now. That has given me more satisfaction than ­football.”

But all that fell apart when his ­relationship with Claire broke down. He left the family home in a village just outside Cardiff after the couple had an emotional heart-to-heart.

A friend said: “Claire asked Craig to leave and he agreed. He’s really close to his kids, so to leave them and be on his own is a big deal. It all happened so ­suddenly.

“A businessman friend of his lives in a beautiful converted pub which he has agreed to rent to Craig. He told him he was in a desperate hurry and that he would have to leave all his furniture there for him.

“Everyone is hoping it isn’t the end for him and Claire but it doesn’t look good.”

The family home: Bellamy's house in St Brides in the Vale of Glamorgan
Rex
The rental: The place where Bellamy is believed to be staying in Penarthe near Cardiff
Sunday Mirror

On Friday morning he drove his car out of the property’s ­underground car park and spent three hours at ­Cardiff City’s training ground.

He spent last week looking for a more ­permanent new home. On Thursday, he was spotted at a ­Cardiff ­lettings agency just an hour before being seen carrying bags into a new apartment.

Meanwhile, earlier this week he was forced to deny online claims that he had retired “with immediate ­effect”.

He issued a statement saying he was “fully ­committed” to playing football and that he hoped to be fit for a match next Saturday.

Cardiff City boss ­Malky Mackay, forced to ­respond to rumours on Twitter that Bellamy was about to quit the game for ­“undisclosed ­reasons”, told reporters: “There are plenty of ­rumours going about, but I’ve told you, he’s torn his calf.”

Team GB: Bellamy starred at the Olympics
Bellamy is one of ­football’s most ­controversial figures. In January 2005 he repeatedly clashed with former ­Newcastle boss Graeme Souness over his insistence on playing Bellamy in midfield.

In March 2007, the night before ­Liverpool’s Champions League final against Barcelona, an allegedly drunk Bellamy confronted teammate John Arne Riise armed with a golf club. Then, after equalising against Barca, Bellamy celebrated with a golf swing in a mocking reference to the night before.

Two years later, during a game for Manchester City against arch-rivals United, he slapped a pitch invader as stewards attempted to remove the man.

In March 2010, after scoring twice against Chelsea, Bellamy launched a scathing attack on Blues’ captain John Terry over his affair with the partner of teammate Wayne Bridge.

He said: “I know what JT is like. ­Nothing surprises me about that guy.”

And last January he was charged with common ­assault after inflicting ­facial injuries on two men during a night out in Cardiff. He was later released with a caution.

All this came after he ­insisted in 2006, after marrying Claire and signing for his boyhood idols Liverpool in a £6million deal, that maturity and marriage had made him a changed man.

That's quite revealing... Speaking from experience, sounds like depression. F**k the fact that I'm a jack, I hope Bellamy seeks and gets the help that he needs.

Before anyone comes back with nonsense about him being loaded and he did this, that or whatever, that's not how it works and I genuinely wish him all the best.

That's quite revealing... Speaking from experience, sounds like depression. F**k the fact that I'm a jack, I hope Bellamy seeks and gets the help that he needs.

Before anyone comes back with nonsense about him being loaded and he did this, that or whatever, that's not how it works and I genuinely wish him all the best.

I knew something was not rite i even started a thread about it here the day he signed after watching the iplayer interview the day he signed but nobody posted in my thread maybe thinking i was being negative or something but how true my post was back then.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=88898&start=0&hilit=depressed

Really good reporting, i didn't know Speed used to be Bellamy's manager at Cardiff City.....

"Speaking at the flat he has rented just outside the city, tears fill his eyes as he speaks about Speed, 42, who was found ­hanging in the garage of his home in Cheshire last November. The father of two was Bellamy’s former boss at Cardiff City and also used to play with him at ­Newcastle."

So he signed a massive contract with us knowing he "didn't give a shit about football"

Thanks for that.

That's quite revealing... Speaking from experience, sounds like depression. F**k the fact that I'm a jack, I hope Bellamy seeks and gets the help that he needs.

Before anyone comes back with nonsense about him being loaded and he did this, that or whatever, that's not how it works and I genuinely wish him all the best.

I knew something was not rite i even started a thread about it here the day he signed after watching the iplayer interview the day he signed but nobody posted in my thread maybe thinking i was being negative or something but how true my post was back then.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=88898&start=0&hilit=depressed

If I'm honest, I was a little surprised at how willing Liverpool were to let him go, he was consistently one of their best players last year. Seems they had a fair idea that he had troubles (never thought I'd say this), fair play to them.

Really good reporting, i didn't know Speed used to be Bellamy's manager at Cardiff City.....

"Speaking at the flat he has rented just outside the city, tears fill his eyes as he speaks about Speed, 42, who was found ­hanging in the garage of his home in Cheshire last November. The father of two was Bellamy’s former boss at Cardiff City and also used to play with him at ­Newcastle."

So he signed a massive contract with us knowing he "didn't give a shit about football"

Thanks for that.

Just maybe, he thought that getting back to Cardiff might help?

Really good reporting, i didn't know Speed used to be Bellamy's manager at Cardiff City.....

"Speaking at the flat he has rented just outside the city, tears fill his eyes as he speaks about Speed, 42, who was found ­hanging in the garage of his home in Cheshire last November. The father of two was Bellamy’s former boss at Cardiff City and also used to play with him at ­Newcastle."

So he signed a massive contract with us knowing he "didn't give a shit about football"

Thanks for that.

Just maybe, he thought that getting back to Cardiff might help?

Bit of a risk to take for a club you love? oh i forgot, he's a liverpool boy.

The best thing we can do as fans is get behind him on the pitch. If he does play again we need to support him not have a go.

I would take Bellamy's comment literally. He's going through a rough time and when we're experiencing hard times we can say something that can be easily misinterpreted.

I can appreciate where Craig is coming from losing a good mate to suicide and hope he sorts everything out. If Craig gets to lead a happier life at the cost of not playing for us then that would be fine by me. I can certainly see what he means by saying he doesn't give a shit about football. There are more important things in life.

Three weeks ago this wouldve been devastating news..


Had we not already known about it....



R.I.P GARY SPEED .. CARDIFF CITY MANAGER

Really good reporting, i didn't know Speed used to be Bellamy's manager at Cardiff City.....

"Speaking at the flat he has rented just outside the city, tears fill his eyes as he speaks about Speed, 42, who was found ­hanging in the garage of his home in Cheshire last November. The father of two was Bellamy’s former boss at Cardiff City and also used to play with him at ­Newcastle."

So he signed a massive contract with us knowing he "didn't give a shit about football"

Thanks for that.

Just maybe, he thought that getting back to Cardiff might help?

Bit of a risk to take for a club you love? oh i forgot, he's a liverpool boy.

I'm sure he still has the best of intentions, sometimes life just doesn't work out as you plan it though. As a swans fan, on the pitch I find Bellamy a niggly horrible little b**tard, his past leaves a lot to be desired as well, but by f**k there were times I wished we had a player like him. As I said, if it is depression, and I could well be wrong, then I hope he gets the help he needs.

They try to do a serious piece and totally dis-credit it with shoddy facts.

What wankers.

Pretty damning report that.

Ok some of the journo's facts are wrong but the most important things in there are direct quotes from Bellamy himself.

It doesn't sound like he is in a very good place at all & i sincerely hope that doesn't prove a hindrance to your promotion push as their is already a lot of pressure on him to perform this season.

Hopefully he has the professionalism to sort his problems out away from the football side of things but as already stated elsewhere he is only human.

I wonder if this is what put QPR off in the end as I know Sparky was definitely interested in bringing him to London on the understanding he could stay at home 4-5 days a week.

Not ideal for Cardiff but I'm sure it will sort itself out.

They try to do a serious piece and totally dis-credit it with shoddy facts.

What wankers.

Thats papers for you craig they will put anything in them to sell but this is life in the real world as said by CB in this report, what i do find most bizzare is the posters on here now rolling out the red carpet & violins for bellers but there the same ones who slagged chops off weekly for problems off the field and spoke openly about them on here along with other players off the field problems, double standard forum it seems or is it depending on who the player is.

They try to do a serious piece and totally dis-credit it with shoddy facts.

What wankers.

Thats papers for you craig but this is life in the real world as said by CB in this report, what i do find most bizzare is the posters on here now rolling out the red carpet & violins for bellers but there the same ones who slagged chops off weekly for problems off the field and spoke openly about them on here, double standard forum it seems or is it depending on who the player is.

You can't compare Bell's problems and chops' problems.....Chops bought that on himself! and he was an arrogant tw*t to boot!!

They try to do a serious piece and totally dis-credit it with shoddy facts.

What wankers.

Thats papers for you craig but this is life in the real world as said by CB in this report, what i do find most bizzare is the posters on here now rolling out the red carpet & violins for bellers but there the same ones who slagged chops off weekly for problems off the field and spoke openly about them on here, double standard forum it seems or is it depending on who the player is.

You can't compare Bell's problems and chops' problems.....Chops bought that on himself! and he was an arrogant tw*t to boot!!

Why not its off the field problems still, and bellers has brought this on himself its not my fault nore yours or any other fans his wife left him is it, so i see no diffrence in both cases but such is life and it deals you what you least expect sometimes.

Chops was lending money to gamble off the newcastle underworld, beller's best mate died and he split with his wife. HUGE difference in circumstances!!!!

His speech at the re-opening of the stadium was a bit of a strange one, but personally, I have a lot of time for Bellamy and hope that he sorts himself out. He could do with the support of as many city fans as possible as he tries to work his way through what must be a very difficult time for all of his family. A rich, successful, footballer he may be, but he is still prone to the same angst in his life as everyone else. Give him a break - he almost certainly didn't mean that quote to be taken literally.

Chops was lending money to gamble off the newcastle underworld, beller's best mate died and he split with his wife. HUGE difference in circumstances!!!!

Yes there is but my point is, this forum has double standards it wasnt so long ago ankles himself posted a thread on DJ carrying on with some girl and his wife had left him ,thats personal shit also, but we speak of whats going about bellers which is a rather sad thing for anyone to deal with and are told to leave it at that, again when it suits dj & chops and other player haters one week for off the field problems but roll out the red carpet the next.

Last edited by Bluebird1977 on Sun Sep 09, 2012 8:08 am, edited 2 times in total.

During his interview when he resigned Craig came across as more than a little sad and much of the interview was taken up with "Difficulties" he had faced during the last 12 months. He also went to great lengths to say he had decided months ago he would be returning home either as a Cardiff City player or retired from football, these were as he said the only options that were open to him.

During the interview Craig thanked a number of people for the help and support he had received since the tragic death of Gary Speed, in particular he thanked Dr Stephen Peters and anyone who did GOOGLE search on that man would realise the type of difficulties Craig has been facing.

Craig lost a very close and dear friend in Gary Speed and it has clearly left a deep scar on him however he is receiving the right help and having moved home he now has his family around him and that will help. He may be seperated from his wife but that may not be forever and having his parents around will no doubt help him in his recovery.


Depression is a terrible illness and quite clearly Craig is suffering at this time but vile specualation about his private life, the sort of stuff that is being spouted on this board by some, it will not help someone struggling with this illness. What is needed is more than a little compassion and understanding starting with the moderators who should delete any thread containing unfounded and illinformed specualtion about his private life.

Craig is one of our own and in my opinion he deserves our understanding, support and our love as he faces the difficult challenges he faces.

During his interview when he resigned Craig came across as more than a little sad and much of the interview was taken up with "Difficulties" he had faced during the last 12 months. He also went to great lengths to say he had decided months ago he would be returning home either as a Cardiff City player or retired from football, these were as he said the only options that were open to him.

During the interview Craig thanked a number of people for the help and support he had received since the tragic death of Gary Speed, in particular he thanked Dr Stephen Peters and anyone who did GOOGLE search on that man would realise the type of difficulties Craig has been facing.

Craig lost a very close and dear friend in Gary Speed and it has clearly left a deep scar on him however he is receiving the right help and having moved home he now has his family around him and that will help. He may be seperated from his wife but that may not be forever and having his parents around will no doubt help him in his recovery.


Depression is a terrible illness and quite clearly Craig is suffering at this time but vile specualation about his private life, the sort of stuff that is being spouted on this board by some, it will not help someone struggling with this illness. What is needed is more than a little compassion and understanding starting with the moderators who should delete any thread containing unfounded and illinformed specualtion about his private life.

Craig is one of our own and in my opinion he deserves our understanding, support and our love as he faces the difficult challenges he faces.

You may want to alter the first line and put a heifen between the re and signed as it comes across as an interview he did when he resigned........i read it 4/5 times to cos i thought he had resigned not re-signed.

Not a dig at your grammar but it scared me as I thought he did a resignation interview I didnt know about

During his interview when he resigned Craig came across as more than a little sad and much of the interview was taken up with "Difficulties" he had faced during the last 12 months. He also went to great lengths to say he had decided months ago he would be returning home either as a Cardiff City player or retired from football, these were as he said the only options that were open to him.

During the interview Craig thanked a number of people for the help and support he had received since the tragic death of Gary Speed, in particular he thanked Dr Stephen Peters and anyone who did GOOGLE search on that man would realise the type of difficulties Craig has been facing.

Craig lost a very close and dear friend in Gary Speed and it has clearly left a deep scar on him however he is receiving the right help and having moved home he now has his family around him and that will help. He may be seperated from his wife but that may not be forever and having his parents around will no doubt help him in his recovery.


Depression is a terrible illness and quite clearly Craig is suffering at this time but vile specualation about his private life, the sort of stuff that is being spouted on this board by some, it will not help someone struggling with this illness. What is needed is more than a little compassion and understanding starting with the moderators who should delete any thread containing unfounded and illinformed specualtion about his private life.

Craig is one of our own and in my opinion he deserves our understanding, support and our love as he faces the difficult challenges he faces.

You may want to alter the first line and put a heifen between the re and signed as it comes across as an interview he did when he resigned........i read it 4/5 times to cos i thought he had resigned not re-signed.

Not a dig at your grammar but it scared me as I thought he did a resignation interview I didnt know about

Doh

That's what a few to many Bow on a Saturday night do.

Still believe in the rest of it though and people should back off Craig and let him deal with the issues facing him.

Poor guy! Hope he works it out.

'If' he didn't give a shit about football then why didn't he just retire from football rather than costing the club £35k per week..?

'If' he didn't give a shit about football then why didn't he just retire from football rather than costing the club £35k per week..?

Spot on !.

'If' he didn't give a shit about football then why didn't he just retire from football rather than costing the club £35k per week..?

Spot on !.

I agree, he's on £35k a week, so he needs to sort things out or move on..

I find it quite sad, I feel for him and hope he finds peace within himself soon. You'll still have those that will slate him for having personal problems.


I for one would wish Craig well and find solace soon

He obviously thought that when he signed for us that it would help him with his problems, and obviously it did not. It is very easy for people to say that he should have done this and he should have done that but it isn't easy making rational decisons when your head has gone.

I think we should give him 100% support on here as he definitely needs it. The money side of it can be sorted out by the club but tbh money and football aren't the most important things in the world at the end of the day. The players are people as well as players and have the same issues as everyone else, he deserves a bit of respect and a lot of support - or do we only support him if it plays. Maybe people should put themselves in his shoes, if you don't feel good about life, how helpful is it having a bunch of people sticking the knife in and twisting it... for F**ks sake!!!!

Craig, if you read this I hope you pull through this regardless of whether or not you play for us again, good luck mate, I hope you get your life back together soon.

'If' he didn't give a shit about football then why didn't he just retire from football rather than costing the club £35k per week..?

Spot on !.

I agree, he's on £35k a week, so he needs to sort things out or move on..

OOOOH LOOK 3 gobshites in 1 post

'If' he didn't give a shit about football then why didn't he just retire from football rather than costing the club £35k per week..?

Spot on !.

I agree, he's on £35k a week, so he needs to sort things out or move on..

OOOOH LOOK 3 gobshites in 1 post

Yep, Like the likes of Adam Brown would hand back his £35k pw wage.