Notts County’s Cedwyn Scott takes a leave of absence, with it confirmed that this is to focus on receiving help for his mental health.
Stuart Maynard also discussed Cedwyn Scott’s leave of absence from the League Two club, praising him for talking about it, highlighting, raising awareness while also explaining all the help Notts County gives and shows support to anyone struggling.
It comes in a month in which many footballers, families and friends of footballers, managers, and staff members shared their experience, struggles, grief, memories on World Mental Health Day having lost loves ones.
With the club’s full support, Cedwyn Scott has undertaken a leave of absence to focus on receiving help for his mental health.
We’re all with you, Ceds 🖤
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) October 18, 2024
Stuart Maynard reiterated the club’s support for Cedwyn Scott when he met the media this morning.
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) October 18, 2024
STATEMENT:
With the club’s full support, Cedwyn Scott has undertaken a leave of absence to focus on receiving help for his mental health.
A statement from Scott reads: “This past year has been a difficult one, both from a personal and professional perspective.
“I have undertaken therapy, which has helped, but I’ve reached a point where I feel I need to take more concerted steps to overcome the difficulties I’m facing.
“I look forward to returning to the club as soon as I can – and, while I would appreciate my privacy being respected at this time, in the future I intend to openly discuss the challenges I’ve faced in the hope that this will benefit others in similar situations.
“The support I’ve received from the club, my family and friends has been fantastic and I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone else who is struggling to please seek the help they need.”
A statement from our board of directors reads: “We take the mental health of all our players and staff very seriously and commend Cedwyn for his openness and proactiveness in seeking support.
“We look forward to welcoming Cedwyn back to the club when the time is right.”
Mental health support services
NHS Mental Health Services: For urgent help, call 111 and select the mental health option to speak to a trained professional
Mind: A charity offering a range of support services, including helplines and community care. Call 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans: A charity providing 24/7 support for anyone in distress. Call 116 123
Interviewer: Alright, Stuart. Let’s start with, with the news about Cedwyn Scott. Tell us how how this leave of absence has come about from your point of view. Is this been have you been talking to him about, about how he is for for a while?
Stuart Maynard: Yes. He’s been he’s been struggling for a while, Ceds. He’s had a very difficult time. And even if you go back to last season and with his injury and being out for most of the season and and footballers, they wanna play as kind of a release in a sense, playing week in, week out on the pitch in front of the fans, and it is that release. And I think I think Ceds has, you know, he’s struggled for a while, and we’ve been talking about it. But, look, as a football club, we support him and back him, and and and that’s the key thing is is supporting and backing him. But it’s huge credit to himself to be able to come out and talk about it because it’s huge. When you can come out and and talk about it, it can help.
Interviewer: It’s interesting that, isn’t it? I think probably a number of years ago, no player ever would have done, particularly maybe in a football club and that that sort of environment when you want to show how strong you are and and fear that it might be perceived as weak, but actually it’s a real strength, as you say, to actually say, no. Hang on a minute. I need to talk about this.
Stuart: It’s a massive strength of kids to do it and but I feel that we’re as a football club, as a management team, and everyone about the club, we’re kind of a supportive club, and we talk to our players a lot about lots of things because we wanna make sure that if you’re happy off the pitch when you come into work, it’s gotta be a good environment and then you perform to the best of your ability. So we’re always talking to the players and and making sure they’re okay on and off the pitch. But it’s a huge credit to Ceds to be able to come out and openly talk about it. And and, look, we we kinda wish him the best, and now we’ll support him in every way we can and and make sure that we get him right and he’s back enjoying his football again as soon as possible.
Interviewer: Generally speaking, are there things in place in football clubs to to help, players talk about mental health?
Stuart: Look. There’s there’s means in the way that we’ll support him and get him help with a counselor, and it’s the same with the PFA. The Players Football Association have been very good and and they’re very supportive as well, so there’s lots of channels that you can gain the support from but the the biggest thing is is is admitting it and and wanting help and once you would do that and that’s what’s so so brilliant with Ceds in the sense that he’s he’s admitted that he’s he’s struggling and now we can get the help and and we can hopefully get him better.
Interviewer: Yeah. I mean, I think we perhaps don’t fully appreciate sometimes the impact that time out on the sidelines and injury can have because we think about the physical side to it. But, actually, when football is somebody’s life and it’s their livelihood, not being able to play, not being able to do the job that you want to do, you’re paid to do, and that you love doing, must be it’s not the only one. You know, this must be an incredibly regularly challenging thing that you see with players.
Stuart: No. Definitely. It’s a lonely place when you get injured, especially long term injuries, because initially when you get injured, you end up around the group and then eventually you end up with different rehab programs, whether it’s gym sessions, you’re not out on the grass for a long period of time. So it’s a very lonely place for a player and people think that you come in and it is a team environment. And as much as you try and include the players when they are long term injuries, which we’ve got at the minute, and you you make regular contact, but it’s not the same for them. That same feeling of coming in every day training and and being around the kind of the lads and and being close to them as a group is is is very different. So, yeah, it’s very difficult.
Interviewer: Yeah. Obviously, we wish him all the best and I’m sure that you’ll be very hopeful that, you’ll have him back and available at at some point in the in the in the near future.
Stuart: Yeah. Look. From our side as a management team, as a player, we back him. We know he’s a top top player and we know that he’ll be influential for us when he comes back but there’s no pressure. We’ve just got to make sure that we support him in the right way and and he’s back when he gets back. There’s no there’s no time scale for us.
Fans gave their reaction as Notts County’s Cedwyn Scott takes leave of absence to focus on receiving help for his mental health…
@theboygosling: We have all got your back Ced’s. Get yourself right, you have had a really tough few years. Just watch that play off penalty back on repeat and you’ll see how you are always etched into club folklore and adored by us all.
@notts_stats: Wishing him all the best, exactly the kind of support he should be getting from the club 🖤🤍
@LucasNCFC: Hope it goes well for you Cedwyn, the fans are all behind you and can’t wait for your return! 🖤🤍
@schawn_monteiro: Get all the help you need Cedwyn. The fans are all here to back and support you through this. Hope it all goes well for you⚫️⚪️❤️
@wrexhamafc: All the very best Cedwyn, I hope everything works out well for you as soon as possible.
@ARLukomski: All the best Ceds ❤️. All of us are behind you
@samwxm5: Sending best wishes to you Cedwyn ❤️
@petewood96: Well done for speaking out, Cedwyn. That’s the bravest, yet strongest, step forward you can take. We all look forward to seeing you back in the black & white stripes when you’re ready. Wishing you all the best big man.
@1862_TwoPies: With you all the way brother 🫶🏼
@ade_rawden: Brave step and wishing you every strength to overcome your obstacles much love 🖤🤍
@benthorpe178: Could tell something wasn’t right when he played, hope he gets whatever it is sorted so he can get back to his best, whether that’s with us or another club. Get well soon Cedwyn
@adamjamesred: Equally proud of Ceds for speaking up about his state of mind and the Club’s reaction enabling him to take some time away from football. We’re all fully with you Ceds 🖤🤍
@arniebats: We’re all behind you, Cedwyn, take the time you need and come back as the player we know you are.
@SimplySuvo92: Take as long as you need Ceds and the whole fanbase is right behind you.
@Bennyg4: We’re all with you Ceds. Thank you for a moment that will be forever cherished. Come back when you’re ready 🖤🤍
@JeanW218: I think we all got the feeling Cedwyn wasn’t in the right frame of mind after returning from injury. Come back stronger, but only when you are ready physically and mentally 🖤🤍
@jgfc2378: speaking for everyone at gateshead, you’ve got this 💪🏻
@Mattpie95: We’re with you Ceds, you’re not alone. Hopefully lots of chants for Ceds tomorrow. ⚫️⚪️
@Kaitlinwood98: We’re all with you Scott! Take all the time you need 🖤🤍
@Connor_RiceyGFC: Incredibly brave Ceds, wishing you nowt but the best mate, focus on yourself, rest up mate
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