Burnley striker Jonathan Walters reveals torment over death of his mother from cancer when he was 11

  • Ireland international Walters has opened up over the death of his mother
  • He was just 11 when Helen Brady passed away from cancer
  • Walters revealed his father send him to school the next day to carry on as normal
  • 33-year-old says he never grieved properly following her death
  • Walters wants to study psychology at university when he finishes playing 

Burnley striker Jonathan Walters has spoken for the first time about the emotional torment of losing his mother to cancer when aged only 11.

The Republic of Ireland international - who committed to the country instead of England following the death of his Dublin-born mum Helen Brady - admits he never grieved properly at the time.

Walters, 33, said his dad sent him back to school the day after she died in an attempt to continue life 'as if everything was all right.'

Jonathan Walters has spoken for the first time about the emotional torment of losing his mother to cancer when he was a child

Jonathan Walters has spoken for the first time about the emotional torment of losing his mother to cancer when he was a child

Striker Walters moved from Stoke City to Burnley over the summer in a £3million deal

Striker Walters moved from Stoke City to Burnley over the summer in a £3million deal

Speaking to The Times, he said: 'We didn't know [how ill she was] until a couple of weeks before she died. We got pulled in and told this is going to happen with mum.


'I remember crying for two days. Non-stop. My mum was in the hospice. I remember the days vividly.

'I went to see my mum in the hospice after she passed away, and the next day, I went straight back into school, carried on as if everything was all right.

'F**king hell. My dad didn't know what to do so he sent us into school to try and carry on being normal. My mum was almost a taboo subject after she passed away.

'When my mother died, I promised I'd play for Ireland. For her. It's very emotional when I hear the Irish national anthem.'

English-born Walters committed to play for Ireland following the death of his Irish mother

English-born Walters committed to play for Ireland following the death of his Irish mother

The 33-year-old played in the Premier League for Stoke City for seven years before his move

The 33-year-old played in the Premier League for Stoke City for seven years before his move

Walters said he will go to university after retiring from football and study psychology in order to finally come to terms with the grief he has bottled up for so long.

The loss affected Walters deeply for a number of years and disrupted the early part of his football career.

His time with Blackburn Rovers came to an abrupt end as a promising youth team player when he stole money.

He said: 'I did something very stupid at Blackburn. I stole some money from someone. I didn't need money. I had a contract, lived there, didn't spend any money. It was a cry for help.'

Walters wants to study psychology at university following retirement to understand his grief

Walters wants to study psychology at university following retirement to understand his grief

Picked up by Bolton Wanderers in 2001, Walters carved out a career, playing for Hull City, Wrexham, Chester City and Ipswich Town in the Football League before seven years in the top-flight with Stoke City.

He moved to Burnley over the summer for a £3million fee, signing a two-year contract. Walters has been capped 49 times for Ireland, scoring 14 goals.

 

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