I have said sorry to my wife for not admitting my struggles.. men should talk about mental health more

Star says he went through hell over speech condition

- SANJEETA BAINS

Three years ago, Chris Kamara was given news which he thought would keep him from doing the job he loved.

The Sky Sports pundit, whose role requires speaking quickly and clearly, was told he had speech apraxia, a neurological disorder which disrupts the transfer of thoughts from the brain, making it difficult to talk.

Kammy, as he is affectionately known, remembers how the condition even triggered a bleak period when he began to think his family would be better off without him.

Now, after working with a therapist, he says has put such "stupid thoughts" behind him and admits he wishes he had spoken to his family more.

"They spotted the signs [that I was struggling]," he says. "I should have talked to my wife Anne, for which I have apologised to her. I didn't tell my wife what was going on.

"My family would have supported me. Anne and my sons would have helped me." Kammy, 67, adds: "I grew up at a time when you didn't talk about your feelings. I lived in a football world where any sort of weakness was frowned upon. Men feel they have to be strong all the time.

"But you need to talk about things going on inside your head... get it off your chest." The former Swindon, Brentford and Stoke man says when he first noticed his speech difficulties, he thought he might be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's.