English footballer retires at 19 after two head injuries

Peterborough United defender Bobby Copping, 19, has announced his retirement from professional football after suffering two head injuries.

Copping sustained a head injury after football returned after the coronavirus lockdown in July 2020 and spent four days in the hospital. It took him months to reach full recovery. A week after he was first named in a matchday squad, he suffered the same head injury and has decided to call it quits.

“Over the last few months, I have been doing all I can to recover whilst having conversations with a specialist who had suggested I try a medication to see if that would stop the injury from re-occurring. Unfortunately, this didn’t work, so that left few options open to me. I have had various conversations with the club and the specialist and we all came to the same conclusion that for my long-term health and to prevent further damage, retirement from football completely was the obvious decision to make and that has been backed up by the fact I still have problems on a day to day basis because of the injury.

“This decision was extremely heart-breaking to make and not just for me, but also for my family who have invested so much into my football journey. Words cannot describe how truly gutted that I am.  Firstly, I would just like to thank everyone at the club, especially the staff and my teammates for all their support in such a difficult time for myself.

“They have been amazing and I wouldn’t have been able to come through this without their support. I would also like to thank my family. They have been my rock throughout this tough time. From the very start of my footballing career they have been there and it hurts a lot knowing we can’t continue my career any further. Finally, thank you to the fans that have supported me and made my time at the club as enjoyable as possible, I have really loved every moment since I joined in 2019.

“Although this is a very difficult time for myself, moving forward I’m extremely lucky and thankful to be able to stay a part of the club. I will be taking up a new role at the club as I now progress my career down the business side of things. Thank you again to everyone that has been involved with my football career from the start, I am extremely gutted but anyone that knows me knows that I will bounce back from this.” Copping said in an emotional statement.

He is receiving massive support from the club and he has been offered a business operations role at the club’s academy; “We are really pleased that Bobby has accepted an offer to work within the Academy in a business operations role. This is a very important role as we plan for Category 2 status and also supports the career aspirations Bobby is now following. He is delighted to be staying at the club and I know he will give 100% in this role, just like he did in his football career.” Academy Manager Kieran Scarff said.

Copping’s retirement comes amid talks of caution on head injuries after several cases of ex footballers suffering from dementia. Concussion substitutions are also being trialled.

Wolves and Mexico striker Raul Jimenez is nearing a return to action after suffering a fractured skull in a collision with Arsenal’s David Luiz in November in a Premier League game.