Chris Kamara: The Untold Heartbreaking Story Of A Football Legend!

The Diary Of A CEO

Early Life and Family Background

Born 1957, grew up as only black family on estate in 1960s
Father from Sierra Leone, mother white British - faced severe racism
Police regularly knocked on door when anything happened in neighborhood
Father occasionally gambled away weekly pay (paid Thursdays in cash)
Mother walked 10 miles to father's workplace to collect wages before he could gamble
Mother would knock on neighbors' doors asking for bread/milk when money ran out
Father taught Chris and brother "don't ever react" to racism - take it on chin
At age 8, Chris had to light coal fire daily for heating
Father was physically violent toward mother - "men were physical towards women" in those days
Chris told dying father this behavior was wrong - regrets bringing it up on deathbed
Mother was "everything" - protected Chris by never showing school reports to father
Despite hardships, describes intimate family love

Childhood dream: play for Middlesbrough, then Leeds United
Played football with grown men from young age on local fields
Dave Richardson (Middlesbrough coach) came to house offering apprenticeship chance
Father refused - said Chris would get in trouble with police if stayed in Middlesbrough
Father "frog marched" Chris to navy recruitment office, forced him to sign up
Left Middlesbrough boys team semi-final to join navy at Torpoint, Devon
Navy football coach initially refused Chris training - 3 reasons:
- On trial status (6 weeks to decide)
- "You're black and these lot will kick lumps out of you"
- "Too skinny"
After 6 weeks, scored 2 goals from wing in training match
Drafted straight into navy team, scored 2 more goals against reserves
Portsmouth bought him out for £200
Got letter from navy saying he could return if football didn't work out

First racist experience age 8: woman in shop said "blacks should go back where they came from"
Millwall particularly horrific - fans spat on back of shirt during throw-ins
Never took throw-in at Millwall again after that incident
Pub in Wetherby refused to serve him after Portsmouth vs Sunderland match (1978)
Barman said "we don't serve his kind in here"
Teammates realized extent of racism Chris faced
Made him "wary of other people" but didn't feel traumatized
Black Lives Matter movement encouraged him to share his stories

Met Anne in 1978 after scoring against Portsmouth while playing for Swindon
Had police escort to game due to National Front death threats
Scored early, celebrated in front of Portsmouth fans despite threats
Asked Anne out through teammate's wife - together 43 years later
Anne noticed something wrong during Chris's health struggles but couldn't identify it
She's been his "rock" throughout apraxia journey
Says she allows him to continue working but reminds him he can say no to jobs

During first lockdown (March 2020), began feeling unwell
Ignored symptoms for 12-20 months while continuing Sky Sports work
Words coming out slurred, tried to speak minimally during broadcasts
First diagnosed with underactive thyroid - took levothyroxine up to 175mg
Thyroid stabilized but speech problems remained
Brain MRI scan showed no problems
Dr. Lilly in Leeds diagnosed apraxia of speech immediately upon meeting
DAT scan ruled out Parkinson's and stroke
Doctor said apraxia would "probably get worse" with no cure
Therapist urged him to tell public - Chris preferred to quit rather than reveal condition

Eventually appeared on Good Morning Britain with Ben Shephard to reveal diagnosis
Winford Doors connected him with Professor Nicholson at Sheffield University
Needed to "kickstart cerebellum" in back of brain that had "shut down"
Multiple treatments implemented:
- Zing Performance exercises (for stroke victims) - helped balance
- Arc Performance micro-currents through body 7 hours daily via ankle tag
- Hyperbaric oxygen tent
- Speech therapy for apraxia and anxiety
- Anxiety therapy helped him complete existing TV commitments
Taking numerous vitamins daily
Recently connected with "best neurologist in America"
Sent blood tests to America, awaiting results
American doctor said "no reason why I can't be cured" because has good days
Estimates now 60% of old self (was 20% at worst)

Started Sky Sports punditry after being manager of month at Bradford
First broadcast was 6-hour double header when Jerry Francis got stuck in traffic
Became go-to pundit, offered contract but preferred to "keep face in shop window"
Joined Soccer Saturday in 1999, did features training with Premier League teams
Edited own pieces to prove he did "hard work" not just presenting
Worked 6-7 hours editing 4-minute pieces
Advice to young people: "Work hard and you'll succeed, don't ever turn down work"
Allowed to "just be me" on television - came naturally
Young Philly (YouTuber) called him "icon" and "trailblazer" for black people in TV
Received tribute from Sky while still alive - usually reserved for deceased
Questions whether continuing work tarnishes previous achievements

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