Ben Bradley

Family, Liverpool FC, Metallica…in that order

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@BigBearF1 @johngibbonsblog Outstanding 👏🏻

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@bigjlfc Only if he signs a new contract

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@willo_ian It’s inspirational just following you on twitter, Ian. Best of luck with everything

[- @JoshLFC1909]

A kid turning down £50k a week pro contracts from other premier league clubs to stay at Liverpool is absolutely huge and massive for the academy.

It shows a PATHWAY for these youngsters.

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@willo_ian Well said mate

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@NFinal2563 @17Sons_ Glad you’re back mate

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@NFinal2563 @17Sons_ Not sure why you had to create a new one mate but I loved your old account, followed 👍🏻

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@Andrew_Heaton 👊🏻

[Big Uncle Knobhead @willo_ian]

Your dreams are as hungry as your demons.

Make sure you're feeding the right one. ❤️🙏👍👊

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@johngibbonsblog I admire your optimism, John. I just don’t see it

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@Andrew_Heaton 3-4-1-2

I think this is the future for us, happy for Wirtz, he’s getting better each game. Isak and Ekiteke ahead of him on the pitch, it’s a thing of absolute beauty

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@justanotherwool It’s this that I need each weekend, thank you Jimmy 👊🏻

[Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn]

I’m often asked by the media: doesn’t striking put patients at risk?

I’ll tell you what puts patients at risk: an understaffed and underfunded NHS!

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@RobGutmann Nodding my head throughout that, @DistanceCovered is bang on the money

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@Andrew_Heaton Andy, I like how balanced TAW have been. I think none of us are happy with how the season has gone…it’s all very regrettable but above all, the club will get through this and be back on top. Players are now playing for their LFC future, we can’t ignore they got us the title

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Suicide.

I'm choosing to be deliberately blunt and provocative in this post because it's necessary. Government, charities, football clubs are all pushing water up a hill in highlighting what is undoubtedly a major health crisis.

You take a rope.
You put it up in a garage or a tree nearby or far away.
You're thinking about every loved one you'll leave behind as you put that rope around your neck.
Then you drop.

Some are decapitated.
Some aren't.
All are found by someone who has a lifetime of trauma that will never leave them.
A son.
A daughter.
A brother.
A sister.
A mother.
A father.

I know 2 men who hung themselves.

One was found by his Mom.
One was found by his brother.
Neither have recovered fully. 20 and 30 years on.

A life sentence for people who were already worrying, terrified their loved one may do something.

So just visualise the above and ask, "is there another way"?

A segway for a moment.

I do a few Q&A's every year. Tales of yesterday with a 99% male audience of my age group.

After the stories and fun, my last question back to the audience is..

"Hands up if you struggle with a mental health issue".

Nobody ever puts a hand up. Despite 1 in every 3 of 500 attendees statistically struggling.

"Ah, nobody, that's fucking brilliant! Well I do! ". I then graphically tell people, stunned into silence about how a rope around my neck in the middle of nowhere jolted me to go home and cry like a baby to my Mom.

After the Q&A has finished, something always happens. I'll be chatting to a few guys, saying bye and one by one, men will come over and whisper " I struggle".

Or my mailbox the next day will have 30 emails from guys, their partners or kids saying " Dad/Uncle /Brother was there last night and what you said hit them hard".

And that's how some people realise that it's time to speak to a pal or family member or even rant to me in an email. It works, I often get a follow up email a year or 6 later saying that they took responsibility for their suicidal feelings and are now flying.

Humans are programmed to want to live, to have families and to keep the species growing and thriving. So for a human to want to short circuit that desire isn't normal, and it should never be spoken of as normal. It's the ultimate red flag.

If you suspect your mate, Dad, Brother, Uncle is struggling mentally, they deserve your intervention.

They deserve a " are you OK, please tell me what's up".

They deserve an opportunity to get past wanting to hang a rope over a tree or in a garage and slowly struggle until they die and you find them.

If you've been there and trust me I have plenty, then you'll know that text out of the blue, or a footie mate or one of your kids asking jow you are can open the curtains to some sunshine.

Because when suicide is your only answer, the room is already dark, and you can't see a way out.

So please, fucking pretty please, ask that husband, Dad, Uncle, Cousin, footie pal TODAY how they are.

You may be shocked what comes back but extremely glad that you asked.

For those who struggle, you're not alone.

[David__Osland @David__Osland]

Britain has 2,800 food banks

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@GeorgieGirlLvp I had no idea, Georgie. You’re a very inspirational woman. I don’t doubt how difficult this is mentally but I believe absolutely that you will be ok

What doesn’t kill us does make us stronger, my very best wishes to you, allow for the bad days and treasure the good ones. YNWA

[Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn]

Labour has opened the door for Farage. We need an alternative, now.

[Ben Bradley @FadeToBlack2022]

@CodyRhodes Very happy for the Rhodes family