BOHEMIANS HAVE CONFIRMED that goalkeeper James Talbot will take a period of leave with the club to deal with mental-health challenges.
In a statement released on Monday, Bohs said that Talbot will be “absent from team duties in the coming weeks, and perhaps beyond.”
Bohs have been aware of Talbot’s issues “for some time” and stressed that the club will work with their first-choice goalkeeper towards a full recovery.
“Bohemian FC player James Talbot will be absent from team duties in the coming weeks, and perhaps beyond,” began Bohs’ statement.
“James is facing mental health challenges, known by the club for some time, and is taking the time to properly address these.
“James is receiving full support from Bohemian FC and remains a key figure at our club, both as a player and as a person.
“He is now receiving the professional assistance required and we will be working with him towards a full recovery.
“We request that James be given space and privacy and the club will be making no further comment.”
Bohemian FC statement regarding James Talbot. ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/Qb1uN8kev4
— Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) January 8, 2024
Home Farm product Talbot was released by Sunderland in the summer of 2018 and joined Bohemians that November, a day before Shane Supple was forced to retire due to a recurring knee injury.
He made his first-team debut against Finn Harps the following February and, in May, he was drafted into Mick McCarthy’s Republic of Ireland squad for the European qualifiers against Denmark and Gibraltar.
He was named Bohs’ own best player during the 2019 campaign and has made 115 first-team appearances over the past five seasons.
Need help? Support is available:
- Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie
- Aware 1800 80 48 48 (depression, anxiety)
- Pieta House 1800 247 247 or email mary@pieta.ie (suicide, self-harm)
- Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
- Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)
Best of luck to him.
Fair play to him but is an article really necessary. I doubt that the lad wants to make a big public deal of it
@RiskFreeDuck: I can’t see the club going into that much detail on his issues without his input and consent. I would guess that he knew this type of statement would attract attention to him and he is ok with that. A lot of sportspeople are leading the way trying to show that it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Eitherway, best of luck to the lad.
Best of luck to James. My son is a Ball Boy at UCD & said that James was the most pleasant to all of them. A great keeper as well.
Best of luck to him. A very good keeper. hopefully the knuckle draggers don’t let themselves down and give him unwarranted abuse.
Thank you James for your honesty and bravery in highlighting the mental wellbeing that affects many people. Some try and hide and only get dragged into a situation they don’t want or need.
There is no shortage of help for these people and it is no slight on their character if they are accessing this help!
Good luck and thanks James!!