27 July 2020

I was trying to be someone I wasn’t: England’s Steph Houghton on how being made England captain affected her mental wellbeing

England footballer Steph Houghton has revealed she spoke to a psychologist after being made captain as she felt she was ‘trying to be someone she wasn’t’.

Houghton, who was given the armband in 2014, said having the responsibility of leading more experienced players than her affected her performance on the pitch.

She said: "I think, in terms of a mental point of view, I tried to be someone that I wasn’t. I tried to be everyone’s mate when I first got given the captaincy.

"I had a lot of experienced players above me, the likes of Fara Williams, Casey Stoney, who had every right to be captain but I had the honour of having the armband. In those first six months it really affected the way I played because I tried to use all my energy to be everybody’s best mate.

“I tried to make sure everyone was ok. Whereas, actually, I was the one who was suffering in the way that my form dipped and that’s when I had to speak to a psychologist. He pulled me aside and said ‘right okay we need just get back to basics of how you’ve actually been given the captaincy’.”

She made her comments during a conference call led by Prince William as part of his Heads Up campaign on the day it launched its 'Mentally Healthy Football’ Declaration.

Its aim is to create an environment in football, across all levels of the game, that is mentally healthy.

The declaration states the sport will build an environment "where players, staff, managers and officials are encouraged to look after their mental health just as they look after their physical health.

"Where they feel able to spot the signs that they, a team-mate or colleague might be struggling and know where to access support.

“Where speaking about mental health is seen as a sign of strength rather than weakness.”

Houghton told the group what helped her was thinking of the things she could control.

"The only thing I could control was how I played and how I was around the team and really sticking true to my beliefs of how football should be and how a captain should be.

“I think as a leader you try and be this person that’s always strong and always really positive but the reality is that sometimes you are going to have a bit of a bad day. 

"The way you grow as a leader and the way the environment is able [to change] for people to open up is if you show that little bit of vulnerability.”

Former England star David Beckham, Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings and Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend were also all involved in the virtual meeting.

William has championed the Heads Up campaign which has seen the mental health charity work with the Football Association to change the conversation surrounding the topic in football this season.

This Saturday will see the re-named Heads Up FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea, a match dedicated to the charity.

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