Former Premier League defender Greg Halford fights back tears as he reveals autism diagnosis
- The 38-year-old discovered he had the condition after his son was also diagnosed
- During his career he made more than 500 club appearances, playing for 17 teams
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Former Premier League defender Greg Halford has bravely opened up about his autism diagnosis.
The 38-year-old joined Sunderland from Reading in 2007 and made just nine appearances before being loaned out and then sold to Wolves in 2009.
He would later find out he was on the autism spectrum after his son was born and he was diagnosed with the disorder.
Speaking about the Undr The Cosh podcastHalford sheds light on the difficulties of trying to settle down while playing for the Black Cats.
“I haven’t told anyone in the football world this, but I’m on the autism spectrum,” he said.
Former Premier League defender Greg Halford has opened up about his autism diagnosis
The 38-year-old joined Sunderland from Reading in 2007 but made just nine appearances
‘So, changing, and not knowing it at the time, fitting in with a new group of people and changing, the way I live, where I live, being away from my family, my girlfriend at the time. I found it very, very difficult.
‘It was difficult to deal with people. After training I never wanted to go to the canteen again, because I didn’t want to be there. I felt uncomfortable. It was just a weird feeling, so I would just go home.
‘Being on the pitch is very different, that’s my area, that’s where I can control myself. But when it comes to small, intimate groups, I found it very difficult at times like that.’
During his career, the former England youth international made more than 500 club appearances, playing in the Premier League, Football League as well as in Scotland and Ireland.
He played for 17 different clubs in his career and added that these new experiences helped him with his condition.
Halford now plays for Hashtag United after joining the club last summer.
He was loaned out twice by the Black Cats before being sold to Wolves shortly afterwards in 2009