Former Liverpool and Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland opened up on his battle with depression and drug addiction at an LFC Foundation event in Anfield earlier today.
The 41-year-old has spoken openly about his struggles in the past and in February this year he revealed he had been battling an addiction to paracetamol. Now, the goalkeeping coach and mental health advocate has revealed that he has taken a number of steps to aid his recovery, with him citing his openness as one of the reasons he's still clean today.
Speaking to the ECHO at the Anfield Sports and Community Centre, he said: "[It's] tough. It's a day-to-day thing. What I've done this time is I have a support network around me. I went to rehab in 2019 and didn't do what they told me to do when setting things up at home.
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"When you're in rehab you're in a bubble and when you come out of that bubble and you're in the real world without setting things up on your doorstep it's easy to slip back in. That's what I did the first time so I knew this time when I came out I needed to set things up.
"Leeona my wife has a drug test at home so she can test me any time, the Foundation has been superb, and all my friends and family as well. Whereas before it was all a secret and that's probably why I ended up going back on them but now I've got the support network around me, people checking on me all the time.
"Exercise is a massive thing as well. Walking, getting out, gym, but all the people that are helping me are helping me stay in recovery. I will always be an addict, it's as simple as that, but hopefully, I can stay in recovery with the things I've got set up."
Chris spent the majority of the day helping coach kids in one of the LFC Foundation's Big Red Summer events that are looking to help children across the city access activities during the summer holidays. Events include a range of activities such as football camps, Go Play events that include the whole family and inclusion events aimed at certain age groups with disabilities.
Chris added: "They come here and get a packed lunch as well. The price of living these days is absurd and something needs to be done about it but unfortunately, it doesn't like it will be so it's down to organisations such as LFC Foundation. It's down to these big organisations to get together to offer free days like this, free food, free drinks for families that are really struggling."
To read more about the Big Red Summer, click here.
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