An interview with… Daryl Robson

Content warning: This interview contains references to mental health challenges (including anxiety, panic attacks and depression), addiction (alcohol, sex and gambling), and mentions of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Please read with care.

You were signed to the Middlesbrough football academy at just 9 years old. Most kids dream of something like that—what was it actually like?

I always dreamed of being a professional footballer, so it was unbelievable to be signed. My god was football. But in my teenage years, my mind was like a washing machine, constantly going around in circles full of anxiety, worry, fear and panic attacks. I suppressed all my mental health issues and looked to escape. It left me with a gaping hole in my soul.

A lot of young players tie their whole identity to how they play on matchday. Did you feel that way?

Yes, I built my whole life on being a footballer; it was my identity, my security, my everything. At 18, Middlesbrough FC told me I would not be offered a professional contract. This left me feeling depressed and empty, I was so full of anger, shame, and embarrassment. Without it, I felt lost and didn’t know who I was as a human being.

After you were released, you went to Ireland and signed a pro contract with Galway United. Some might say that you "made it". What was the reality?

It brought more money, more respect, and the status of being a professional. However, in my first season, I was injured for 5 months. Not being able to play when I had built my whole life around playing football left me feeling lost and empty. I turned to drink, sex, and gambling. I was in a cycle of living in nightclubs and parties, often returning home at 6 am and questioning the purpose of my life. I would ask myself, "Is there more to life than this?"

Your uncle had a turnaround in his own life. Did his story influence you at the time?

My uncle was a heroin addict who had tried to commit suicide and was sectioned in a psychiatric hospital. One day, a lady prayed for him, and he had a powerful encounter with Jesus. His life turned completely around. He would regularly pray for me, but I just didn’t want anything to do with Jesus.

So, how did you end up in a church pew on a Sunday morning after a night at a club?

I returned home at 4 am. At 9 am, I woke up with a hangover and thoughts running through my mind: ‘try the Church.’ I thought, ‘why not?’ I got up, put the same nightclub clothes on, and went to the service, stinking of booze.

What was the "game-changer" moment during that service?

For the first time, I heard that Jesus loved me, that he died for me, and that he could set me free from the fear of death. I didn’t understand everything, but I responded to the call to repent of my sin and trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

How did that decision change the way you felt when you stepped back out into the world?

I walked out with an unbelievable peace. I felt clean on the inside; the fear of death and panic attacks stopped. It was like a spiritual veil had come down over my eyes. I recognised that the choices I was making were destroying me. I had made a god out of football, and I couldn’t build my life on it anymore.

How did finding faith affect your game?

I was a brand-new man in Christ. My heart changed, my mind changed, and my life changed. I was finally set free to play football without fear. I wanted other footballers to experience the life changing power of Jesus and so I founded F3. F3 helps footballers find faith in Jesus and grow in their game and in their walk with Jesus.

Order our Goal of Life Football Gospel:

This is just one of the powerful stories featured in our new Goal of Life Football Gospel — sharing real testimonies from professional footballers alongside the Gospel of Mark.

Available to pre-order now from just 85p per copy* — perfect for sharing during the 2026 World Cup.

👉 Pre-order sign up for our special early-bird offer or
👉 Order now from our shop