Former Chelsea keeper ‘livid’ after club statement

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley says he is “livid” after feeling forced to reveal his battle with depression.

The 34-year-old believes a Farnborough statement announcing his retirement left him with no choice but to admit the illness.

Pidgeley, who says he has suffered with mental health issues for a decade, wished to keep the matter private.

Southern League club Farnborough released a statement on social media earlier this week explaining their lack of options in goal for an FA Cup tie by revealing Pidgeley had a “significant long-term personal medical condition”.

They added: “This is the first the club that has heard of this. Although the timing is shocking, we wish Lenny and his family all the best in his retirement.”

The club attempted to clarify the matter in a follow-up statement but Pidgeley felt he should have decided if he went public about his depression, revealing some of his family were unaware of his plans to retire.

“At the other clubs I was at, it never came out in the open,” Pidgeley told BBC Sport. “Recently my depression has been with me quite a lot.

“In the last couple of weeks I tried to play through it, but it became too much for me. By midweek, when the cup game was, I could barely get out of bed… I was almost at the point of panic attacks.

“When the statement came out, it put me in a dark place. The way the club have conducted themselves is not right.

“They mentioned my illness, which I have never been comfortable talking about. For 10 years I’ve tried to keep it undercover.

“I have never wanted this to come out, never ever.”

Pidgeley, whose other former clubs include Watford, Millwall and Carlisle, continued: “My mum is worried sick, she found out because my auntie saw it on social media. I hadn’t had time to speak to her and tell her.

“She said, ‘What is going on? You are retiring from football?’

“The situation has made me livid, I am so angry and that’s not helpful when you aren’t in a good place.”