AARON CONNOLLY has been praised for a message he sent to a Sunderland fan who opened up about their struggles with mental health.
The Republic of Ireland international has previously spoken about his issues with mental health.
And when Twitter user Mackemdownsouth bravely took to the platform to document their own problems, Connolly reached out.
The fan shared a screenshot of the Twitter DM which was sent on November 17.
It read: “Bigman I seen your tweet last week and I hope you’re in a better place atm, and seen you’re a Sunderland fan obviously, I know you’re based down south from your bio.
“We’ve got Millwall away after the break. If you aren’t already going I’ll sort you out some tickets and meet up with you after and give you my shirt.
“I’ll try get it signed by all the boys also, just let me know if you want to do that.
“Don’t want to come across patronising or anything in this message, just I’ve been there bro and still am, so just want to try help in any way I can.”
The fan was blown away by the message, saying: “Top man @aaronconnolly24#SAFC” which prompted a deluge of praise for the Irishman.
One said: “Aaron Connolly is one of the most over-hated players in Irish history he’s a top man” and a second added: “Absolutely top notch from Aaron Connolly”
A third said: “You gotta love to see this from Aaron Connolly”.
And a fifth posted: “That is top drawer from @aaronconnolly24 going through his own things and still reaches out .
“You are an amazing human Aaron. @SunderlandAFC one big family“
The Galway-native, 24, is looking to reignite his career at Sunderland after a tumultuous few years.
He appeared to have the world at his feet as a 19-year-old scoring a brace for Brighton against Tottenham Hotspur in 2019.
That corresponded with a breakthrough at international level as he made his senior Republic of Ireland debut under Mick McCarthy in October 2019.
‘LIVING THE LIFE’
In a frank and honest interview with Sunderland’s in-house media, Connolly revealed that, away from the game, he was taking his eye off the ball.
He explained: “You go from the U23s and getting plaudits there and you get shot into the Premier League.
“”My phone was blowing up, social media… it was one of the best days of my life [scoring a brace against Spurs] but also one of the worst because the following five years came from that.
“I stopped working, stopped doing the things that I should have kept doing.
“I started to believe the hype and I didn’t turn into a good person after that, I was tough to be around, no one could tell me anything.
“I didn’t know how to deal with it, to be honest. I didn’t feel like I had that authoritative figure to keep me grounded.
“I always say to my parents that I started to live the life of a footballer without the football side of it and that was the hardest bit to admit at the time – that I wasn’t doing all the things that had got myself in that position.
“It hurts to look back at it and speak it.
“I had problems off the pitch and it was highlighted a lot.
“I lost track of myself, lost track of why I was playing football, chasing things that I was never chasing before that Tottenham goal.”
Connolly had unsuccessful loan spells with Luton Town, Middlesbrough, and Venezia before being sold to Hull City in 2023.
He scored 10 goals in 36 appearances for the Tigers but this spell corresponded with the worst of his alcohol issues.
Last July, he left the club and went to rehab.
He added: “It was obvious I had a problem with alcohol.
“I had my parents who never drank and would always advise me whenever I went out to stay away from it because of addiction to alcohol in my family.
“I didn’t listen, it got me in a lot of trouble. It became something I relied on.
“My buzz used to come from football, scoring goals, winning games – it got to a point where the buzz was more from drinking alcohol.
“I used to look forward to the games finishing so I could have time to go and get drunk.
“I decided at the end of July that it was too much, I couldn’t do it, live the way I was doing.
“It was killing the people around me, family and friends. Mainly it was killing me.
“I had one of my best seasons at Hull last season but off the pitch my life was a mess, the manager there looked after me and always tried to help but it got to the point where my life was unmanageable.
“I made the decision that I needed to go a treatment clinic, and I was there for a month. It wasn’t about the football, it was about my life.
“Everything was falling apart.”
TALK IT OUT
Connolly’s interview marked World Mental Health Day, with the Irishman stressing the importance of speaking to people about these issues.
He said: “It’s important for me to talk about this because I really wish that there had been a person I could listen to, or an interview or a podcast, and talk about doing this [going to a treatment centre].
“I hope it will help people – I had everything a young boy could dream of but I couldn’t get hold of my addiction.
“It was the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do. It was the best and worst month of my life. I learned so much.”
Connolly joined Sunderland last month, and believes he is ready to find his best form again.
“It’s been a whirlwind, I’ve signed for a massive club.
“I’ve seen it from being around the city, I’ve seen people with Sunderland crests tattooed. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, to play for a club for this size, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.
“I can’t describe how good it has been to be back playing football. I’ve had a tough few months so to be around a good group of people and with a football at my feet, and I couldn’t be happier.
“I feel refreshed, like the young kid who came to England. I have a purpose, I don’t have a weight on my shoulders again.
“I want to get this club to the Premier League.”
