Charlie Aims For A Change To Mens' Mental Direction

It’s never been about being a National League player as his old friends win Champions Leagues and play in World Cups.

It’s not really about doing what most young players do at his boyhood love Chelsea, ultimately failing to make the grade, either.

The Yeovil Town winger accepted he was having mental health issues when injuries started to get too much for him and he feared he may have to retire.

Then his beloved uncle took his own life. Then came Covid, too much thinking time and not enough of an escape route when things were getting on top of him.

The 24-year-old is now dedicating his free time to helping footballers deal with the pressures and pains that come with a job many think can’t possibly have a single problem attached to it.

Producing documentary Man Up, he examines football’s rocky relationship with mental health and speaks openly about his own struggles.

He says never make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings and wants to help others find a way out.

He doesn’t need to sell the idea to anyone at Yeovil Town.

This, of course, is the club still coming to terms with the crippling death of its captain Lee Collins last year.

He couldn’t be in a better place to spread his message.

Charlie told us: “I would be shocked if there was a single dressing room anywhere that didn’t have at least one person who was struggling.

“There’s a perception I think that young males, in particular footballers, are bulletproof.

“It’s the alpha-male thing to an extent. Everyone has their reasons, but so many people struggle at times and there will be players struggling right now.

“Boys don’t want to talk, they bottle it up but it’s got to not be seen as a weakness anymore.”

He says it was injuries that put him in a dark place, not failing to break through at Chelsea.

But for others, such blows could see things spiral - as could the end of careers, leaving behind things they have known and loved for 20 years of their lives.

“I am still ambitious, I don’t think leaving Chelsea spelled the end for me but for academy players it can be very tough,” he said.

“I think it’s important for young players to have someone who they can reach out to, and I’ve already had an incredible reaction to the documentary.

“One of the things I feel is hugely important is that people who are suffering have someone to talk to. This is also about tips for talking to people who could be struggling.

“If there is just one person who sees it and it brings a positive impact, or perhaps someone who isn’t struggling and can help someone, then it will all have been worth it.

“We’re talking about people’s lives. If I can be someone they can speak to, then fantastic.

“I felt ‘I have a vision to create this documentary, let’s just go with it’ and we did.

“Signing for Yeovil after what the club went through? Well everything happens for a reason.”

He is hoping to put his recent injury issues behind him and play a part against Bromley next week.

Things have picked up for the Glovers under Mark Cooper - and he hopes things change for him, too.

He added: “I’m getting closer, I’ve been running well and next week I hope to be back out there.

“The manager has worked at League One and League Two level, he knows what he is doing.

“The little details are already making a lot of difference.”

To watch Charlie Wakefield’s documentary Man Up, click here.

PHOTO BY PINNACLE