Professional football & Mental Health PhD

[Scooter]

Hi all
I just thought I would share this with you all. This month I am starting my PhD (5 years part-time) and I aim to explore the lived experiences of former professionals with mental health issues. As you will be aware lots of big name players either have or have had mental health issues and I feel that professional clubs do not do enough to address this.
I would like to interview former pros such as Gascoigne, Sansom, Collymore, Carlisle, Windass etc etc to try and find out their experiences as a player, what (if any) support they had and what recommendations they or I have for current players.
Football is a closed shop but thanks to Silent Majority I have met with Gavin Baldwin with the aim of doing some work with the first team (and then hopefully on to other clubs)

Anyway I have decided to blog my journey , so feel free to have a read and I welcome any feedback from fellow Rovers supporters! Thanks
https://t.co/N87Uefq02m

[BobG]

Brilliant Scooter. You've taken on a challenge and half there. But starting really is is the hardest part. 5 years is a long, long time but the results, for you, never mind footballers in general, will be very much worth it. So good luck!

Cheers

BobG

[Retdon1]

A very interesting read, good luck with it all. Have you tried talking to some rugby league clubs about what they do with there players. I know they take it a lot more serious than football clubs and have a few projects like state of mind up and running.

[Scooter]

Brilliant Scooter. You've taken on a challenge and half there. But starting really is is the hardest part. 5 years is a long, long time but the results, for you, never mind footballers in general, will be very much worth it. So good luck!

Cheers

BobG

Thanks Bob, I'm going to need it - although I'm ready for the challenge

[Scooter]

A very interesting read, good luck with it all. Have you tried talking to some rugby league clubs about what they do with there players. I know they take it a lot more serious than football clubs and have a few projects like state of mind up and running.

Thanks Retdon. Yeah I know about the State of Mind project (I have the t-shirt). My boss plays rugby so has lots of contacts, one of my supervisors is a professor in sport and has contacts with elite referees and the British Olympic team. I'm also aware of the excellent work cricket do and I have been in contact with Matthew Wood from the Professional Cricketers Association.
However, football is my fave sport and clearly lags behind all the others. I hope to exploit this and you never know someone corrupt within football might give me a brown paper envelope with £400,000 for my troubles!

[robchester]

Good luck with that scooter. I look forward to reading your updates.

[The Red Baron]

Brilliant Scooter. You've taken on a challenge and half there. But starting really is is the hardest part. 5 years is a long, long time but the results, for you, never mind footballers in general, will be very much worth it. So good luck!

Cheers

BobG

Thanks Bob, I'm going to need it - although I'm ready for the challenge

Good luck with the PhD. I started one a number of years ago - part time like you - but after six months in which I got no further than a bit of planning I threw the towel in. With hindsight, I probably wasn't as enthused about my subject as I thought I was.

It will be hard work but will also give you immense satisfaction when you do complete it.

[Scooter]

Thanks guys. The reason I needed to study football was to keep my interest up when times get really tough.
I aim to use the PFA's media channels but thanks Rigo I will PM you

[BobG]

Just in case you're interested Scooter, I had to write a methodological review and analysis a few years ago. My chosen approach was the phenomenonological route, but, although I wasn't doing a PhD, my supervisor told me that that section of my thesis was PhD standard. So, if you want a methodological chapter, brown envelopes will be very welcome!

Seriously, if you do want something to have a look at, send me a PM. I reckon if it's brought upto date with current articles and thinking, it'll be a damn good start.

I might also be able to get hold of the methodological section of a mates' history PhD. He had his viva only about 6 months ago so it ought to be upto date... Not that phenomenological research is going to do much in a historical context!

Cheers

BobG

[Scooter]

Hi Bob
PM sent

[Sammy Chung was King]

What about interviewing professional referees as well?, a different angle on things.

[Scooter]

Yeah maybe SCWK but I know they have workshops on stress and pressure. If the opportunity comes up I might explore it

[Sammy Chung was King]

Good luck with it scooter, just remember when you are bigtime, you learnt the value of patience from reading my monologues.

[Scooter]

Good luck with it scooter, just remember when you are bigtime, you learnt the value of patience from reading my monologues.

Thank you. Reading complex research articles will be a doddle after reading your posts! 😜😂

[BobG]

Ha ha ha ha!! I'm wetting msyelf at that one Scooter!

Very funny

Bob