Former Hartlepool United defender reveals mental battle after serious injury
Former Hartlepool United defender Louis Stephenson is battling his way back from the first serious injury of his young career.
Former Hartlepool United defender Louis Stephenson has given an insight into the mental battle he is facing as he works his way back from the first major injury of his career.
The 21-year-old made 35 senior appearances during a three-year stay in the first-team set-up at Victoria Park and also gained first-team experience during loan stints with the likes of Blyth Spartans, Whitby Town and Morpeth Town during that time. However, Stephenson’s time with Pools came to a close earlier this year when his contract came to a close and he was just one of 13 players that were released at the end of last season.
After receiving interest from a number of National League and National League North clubs, Stephenson accepted an offer to join Spennymoor Town after spending time at the Brewery Field last season. However, his attempts to make an impact with his new club were brought to an abrupt end when he suffered a serious knee injury during a pre-season friendly with Bishop Auckland that will mean he will not feature for the Moors this season and will face a battle to return in time for their pre-season preparations next summer.
After undergoing surgery on the injury, Stephenson is now working through the early stages of his rehabilitation - although the versatile defender has admitted the mental toll of the recovery process has been just as difficult as dealing with the physical side of the injury. He told The Mail: “This is my first major injury, my first big one, it’s the worst one and it’s an ACL, an MCL and a meniscus tear. I’d say this year for me, personally, has been the toughest year of my life. Coming out of Hartlepool, going to Spennymoor, and I was flying with Spenny, I’d started a new job because I’m transitioning from full-time football to part-time, everything was perfect, and then in one night, everything is taken away.
“It’s not even about earning money, it’s the other side of things. You can’t leave the house and do anything. You sit with yourself and contemplate everything. You question yourself. You ask what if I didn’t make that run, take that step, everything. The injury is more a mental battle than a physical one because I’ve always been physically fit but this is the biggest mental battle I’ve had because this will effect my life for a year.”
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Focus
Stephenson’s rehabilitation is already underway with the young defender now working on an exercise bike - although patience and understanding is required as he embarks on a long and painful road to recovery.
He said: “It’s nine to twelve months from the surgery and I could be back for pre-season, I could not be. It’s all dependent on how my body reacts to it. I’m getting little check marks from the surgeon and I’m miles ahead of where I should be. Some lads come back seven or eight months after it and a normal time-frame is nine to twelve months. I’m just focusing on doing well and getting myself right.”
‘They’re looking after me’
Although Stephenson’s injury happened during Tommy Miller’s time in charge of the Moors, his rehabilitation and recovery will take place under the watch of another former Pools player after Peter Hartley was named as new manager of the National League North club last month. Stephenson trained alongside the 38-year-old during their time at The Vic and he has revealed how quickly he has received support from the new man in charge at Brewery Field.
He said: “I like Pete, I trained with him at Hartlepool and he text me straightaway when it happened. He took me straight in when he joined the club, he keeps texting me asking if I need help or just to chat. I know what he’s like, Matty Dolan has been the same. They may not have had an injury like this but they will know players that have. They’re looking after me and I know they are there for me.”
‘Spennymoor have been amazing with me’
Stephenson has received further support from the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) in recent months and he also revealed Spennymoor have paid for a ‘large proportion’ of the cost of his surgery. The defender praised the National League North club for the backing he has received and he believes it shows how much the Moors hierarchy care for the players within their ranks.
“It’s my first major injury so it’s taking a lot to get over that,” he explained. “Spennymoor have been amazing with me. As soon as I was stretchered off, everyone rang me and said they would be there for me. Obviously, my head was up my a**e, I was crying, it’s a lot to take in, I was an emotional wreck - but everyone was saying the same thing to me. They said they’d support me, they said I’d get the help I needed and to be fair, I have been given everything I could ask for.
“I’ve seen physio, the club went private and paid for my surgery. I had help from the PFA but the club paid the large proportion. Not a penny has come out of my pocket and that shows just how much the club care for me and the rest of the players too.”