Ex Spurs and Liverpool star says hitting ‘rock bottom’ was motivation for new project lauded by teammates

Ex Tottenham Hotspur and QPR star Steven Caulker has opened up about hitting 'rock bottom' during his football career as he launches an aftercare academy.

The 31-year-old is at the heart of Behind The White Lines, a project that looks to help academy and ex-professional players who fall away from the game gain employment and mental health support.

The defender, who spent the back end of last season at relegated Championship side Wigan Athletic, shared a candid story from his own career in a promotional video for the project. Caulker admitted that between spells at Liverpool, QPR and Dundee he endured mental health struggles that motivated him to get the passion project off the ground.

Caulker said: "Behind The White Lines is the UK's first-ever professional football aftercare academy. At Behind The White Lines we cover three main areas.

"One, to ensure the players have a platform for late development, for players who perform better under different coaches, to have that platform to step back into football.

"Two, to ensuire they can transition into other pathways through our business connections with multiple universities and our scholarship programme with America.

"Three, to ensure we take care of every player's mental health on and off the pitch.

"My inspiration of starting Behind The White Lines is based on personal lived experience. In 2016 and 2017, I hit rock bottom. I'd fallen away from football, from my relationship, from life. At the time, with no football club and no income, what was my identity? That was a period of my life I look back on and go, that's the moment that made me."

The star’s candid tale and new venture has received support from teammates past including Andros Townsend, Wayne Routledge, Danny Graham and more.

Caulker has played for 14 clubs over a 14-year professional career having emerged from the Spurs academy. The ex Premier League star also played for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics and won one England cap before electing to play for Sierra Leone.

Earlier this year, the defender spoke out against the running of Wigan Athletic as players protested not being paid amid financial troubles at the club. The ex Cardiff City man branded the situation 'absolutely scandalous' as he slammed the club on behalf of his colleagues.

In the Behind The White Lines clip, Caulker continued: "For me, mental health is the most and the number one priority for any human being, never mind a footballer.

"Our focus is that and I want to carry that message forward for all the youngsters and the next generation. 99.5% of academy players never go on to make a living from the game, for us it's important to understand these states, learn from these stats and try and improve these stats.

"For us, we will try and get as many players back into football and allow them to pursue their dreams, but just as important as getting them back into football, it's important to make sure they have other opportunities. we've fantastic opportunities for both young men and women to head into universities on free scholarships, to head to America on free scholarships, to step into businesses on apprenticeship programmes and go into a trade."