‘ Neil Etheridge Reveals Struggle ‘
Wed Oct 30, 2019 2:01 pm
Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge reveals Premier League mental health struggles in candid interview
By Glenn Williams
Wednesday 30th October 2019
The goalkeeper was a key figure for the Bluebirds in the top flight, and he's bravely discussed the personal problems he faced
The goalkeeper was a key figure for the Bluebirds in the top flight, and he's bravely discussed the personal problems he faced
Neil Etheridge has bravely opened up about how mental health struggles tormented him throughout Cardiff City's Premier League season.
The Bluebirds goalkeeper was one of the shining lights for Neil Warnock's side in the ultimately ill-fated campaign in the top flight.
So much so, in fact, newly-promoted Aston Villa were keen on acquiring his services this summer.
But, behind the scenes, it was a very different picture. Etheridge was fighting the most difficult of battles.
Before last season began, he started seeing a psychologist because he was consumed with a feeling of emptiness despite reaching the very pinnacle of his career.
And, in a candid interview, the Philippines international spoke about the demons that plagued him last year.
"Living in that moment I didn't enjoy it very much," he told the Across The Line podcast, "I broke down.
"Not many people know this, but at the start of the Premier League season I started seeing a psychologist, because I could do everything on the field, but mentally I was empty."
The then embattled goalkeeper even revealed that when Cardiff sealed promotion to the top flight, he found no fulfilment.
"I was saying I was all happy, but in reality I wasn't that happy we got promoted," he added. "Well, not that I wasn't happy, it's hard to describe.
"It was an empty happiness, there was no real fulfilment for me."
He attributes those feelings to the destabilising nature of his career to that point.
The 29-year-old had spells at Fulham, Leatherhead, Charlton Athletic, Bristol Rovers, Crewe Alexandra, Oldham Athletic and Walsall before finding home in the Welsh capital.
He has always appeared to be a person who has the utmost confidence in his ability, but even he admits that seemingly impenetrable outward persona is sometimes bravado.
"Am I good enough?," he continued. "That's a big thing. Sometimes I do put on a front of 'I'm amazing' and I do believe it, but sometimes I don't believe it."
The visit to the psychologist was triggered by a conversation he had with his fiancée Alexandra Solera.
She could see he was getting no enjoyment out of the game he loved, having gone from 'zero to 100' in such a short space of time and implored him to seek help in order to cope with the sizeable changes.
He visited the club doctor and had an incredibly sobering conversation about when Cardiff sealed promotion that really hit home.
Etheridge said: "The doctor said: 'When we got promoted, everyone was dancing, drinking, you just sat in your spot and didn't move.'
"I didn't even know. He goes: 'Did you enjoy it?'
"And I said: 'Yeah, well not really, but yeah.' It's a weird concept.
"I just found it extremely tough, mentally. Not because of my ability, but because I couldn't realise what I'd achieved."
Neil Etheridge
He says the work with the psychologist paid dividends and it showed in the back end of the Premier League season, when he earned high praise for his many stellar displays.
Etheridge believes now he has struck a better balance between enjoying the game and his unrelenting focus on success.
He has managed to regain that No.1 spot in the City goal this season, ousting Alex Smithies in recent weeks, and Bluebirds will hope he is back to his rip-roaring best to help get this Championship campaign back on track.
By Glenn Williams
Wednesday 30th October 2019
The goalkeeper was a key figure for the Bluebirds in the top flight, and he's bravely discussed the personal problems he faced
The goalkeeper was a key figure for the Bluebirds in the top flight, and he's bravely discussed the personal problems he faced
Neil Etheridge has bravely opened up about how mental health struggles tormented him throughout Cardiff City's Premier League season.
The Bluebirds goalkeeper was one of the shining lights for Neil Warnock's side in the ultimately ill-fated campaign in the top flight.
So much so, in fact, newly-promoted Aston Villa were keen on acquiring his services this summer.
But, behind the scenes, it was a very different picture. Etheridge was fighting the most difficult of battles.
Before last season began, he started seeing a psychologist because he was consumed with a feeling of emptiness despite reaching the very pinnacle of his career.
And, in a candid interview, the Philippines international spoke about the demons that plagued him last year.
"Living in that moment I didn't enjoy it very much," he told the Across The Line podcast, "I broke down.
"Not many people know this, but at the start of the Premier League season I started seeing a psychologist, because I could do everything on the field, but mentally I was empty."
The then embattled goalkeeper even revealed that when Cardiff sealed promotion to the top flight, he found no fulfilment.
"I was saying I was all happy, but in reality I wasn't that happy we got promoted," he added. "Well, not that I wasn't happy, it's hard to describe.
"It was an empty happiness, there was no real fulfilment for me."
He attributes those feelings to the destabilising nature of his career to that point.
The 29-year-old had spells at Fulham, Leatherhead, Charlton Athletic, Bristol Rovers, Crewe Alexandra, Oldham Athletic and Walsall before finding home in the Welsh capital.
He has always appeared to be a person who has the utmost confidence in his ability, but even he admits that seemingly impenetrable outward persona is sometimes bravado.
"Am I good enough?," he continued. "That's a big thing. Sometimes I do put on a front of 'I'm amazing' and I do believe it, but sometimes I don't believe it."
The visit to the psychologist was triggered by a conversation he had with his fiancée Alexandra Solera.
She could see he was getting no enjoyment out of the game he loved, having gone from 'zero to 100' in such a short space of time and implored him to seek help in order to cope with the sizeable changes.
He visited the club doctor and had an incredibly sobering conversation about when Cardiff sealed promotion that really hit home.
Etheridge said: "The doctor said: 'When we got promoted, everyone was dancing, drinking, you just sat in your spot and didn't move.'
"I didn't even know. He goes: 'Did you enjoy it?'
"And I said: 'Yeah, well not really, but yeah.' It's a weird concept.
"I just found it extremely tough, mentally. Not because of my ability, but because I couldn't realise what I'd achieved."
Neil Etheridge
He says the work with the psychologist paid dividends and it showed in the back end of the Premier League season, when he earned high praise for his many stellar displays.
Etheridge believes now he has struck a better balance between enjoying the game and his unrelenting focus on success.
He has managed to regain that No.1 spot in the City goal this season, ousting Alex Smithies in recent weeks, and Bluebirds will hope he is back to his rip-roaring best to help get this Championship campaign back on track.
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Re: ‘ Neil Etheridge Reveals Struggle ‘
Wed Oct 30, 2019 2:19 pm
That's genuinely really sad reading that. Respect for speaking out Neil 
Re: ‘ Neil Etheridge Reveals Struggle ‘
Wed Oct 30, 2019 6:04 pm
Really feel for him,some people (George best for one)find "fame" a scary thing,well done to his mrs I say,for spotting it.good luck neil, perhaps being back in the reality of the championship helps some. 
Re: ‘ Neil Etheridge Reveals Struggle ‘
Thu Oct 31, 2019 12:08 am
wow...
makes you realise that some times things are not what they seem...
players these days are under so much scrutiny ,almost every twitch is spotted by someone and where as years ago it ended there nowadays it gets remarked on here or other social media and before you know it the player { not necessarily neil } does not care/ cant be bothered. when maybe its something else altogether
makes you realise that some times things are not what they seem...
players these days are under so much scrutiny ,almost every twitch is spotted by someone and where as years ago it ended there nowadays it gets remarked on here or other social media and before you know it the player { not necessarily neil } does not care/ cant be bothered. when maybe its something else altogether
Re: ‘ Neil Etheridge Reveals Struggle ‘
Thu Oct 31, 2019 2:57 am
englishbluebird wrote:That's genuinely really sad reading that. Respect for speaking out Neil
Just goes to show the ignorance of 'fans' on occasion when they (as with Morrison and others) make blind assumptions about what has gone on in any given situation and/or period of reduced or subdued performance
Re: ‘ Neil Etheridge Reveals Struggle ‘
Thu Oct 31, 2019 7:21 am
Sven wrote:englishbluebird wrote:That's genuinely really sad reading that. Respect for speaking out Neil
Just goes to show the ignorance of 'fans' on occasion when they (as with Morrison and others) make blind assumptions about what has gone on in any given situation and/or period of reduced or subdued performance
Absolutely spot on.
The ridiculous rumours, presumptions and guess work on here by some is a perfect example.
Re: ‘ Neil Etheridge Reveals Struggle ‘
Thu Oct 31, 2019 2:05 pm
Enlightening.