47-year-old Kevin Ellison battles depression and eyes FA Cup cameo
Former Leicester striker Kevin Ellison, now 47, discusses his past battle with depression and his chance to play in the FA Cup for Vauxhall Motors.
Kevin Ellison’s career began with a brief Premier League cameo for Leicester City against Manchester United in 2001, after a £50,000 move from non-league Altrincham. Following that, he fell through the divisions, endured depression triggered by personal tragedies and contract insecurity, and at one point contemplated suicide while driving on the M6. Seeking counseling allowed him to regain stability, and he now balances a safeguarding role at a Liverpool secondary school with part-time football for Vauxhall Motors.
At 47, he remains fit enough to potentially feature in the FA Cup preliminary round, which would make him one of the competition’s oldest players. Ellison, who has amassed over 1,000 career appearances across eight tiers, uses his story to encourage others to speak openly about mental health.
Why it matters
Ellison’s story highlights mental-health challenges in sport and shows that players can thrive well beyond typical retirement ages.
In this story
