Nicky Low started to experience severe depression when he was injured during a spell playing for Derry City in the League of Ireland.
Nicky told our sister title, the Greenock Telegraph, he was conscious that he was ‘very low’ during his time on the sidelines, but began to realise his problems were more serious when he continued to feel terrible over the months that followed.
The 34-year-old said he had been in his flat watching a football game on television one night when he suddenly felt compelled to make an attempt to take his own life.
He said the experience made him feel like he ‘wasn’t in his body’ and said he is ‘forever indebted’ to the person who stopped him after he left his flat.
The former Aberdeen, Dundee and Arbroath star said he finally felt ‘in his body again’ while he was safe in a police car afterwards.
Nicky has spoken out as he prepares to take on a gruelling charity challenge for Inverclyde suicide prevention charity, The Anchor, in memory of his much-missed friend, Joe Cooke.
He said: “Looking from the outside in, people think I have my life together as a professional footballer – but mental health doesn’t discriminate.
“I just thought I was a bit down and I was trying to learn how to deal with it but it went on for months and months.
“The hardest part was the next few days knowing that people were going to find out that I was struggling.”
Nicky said he received amazing support from Derry City and continues to receive fantastic help from his current club, Clydebank.
He added: “I am so thankful I am still here.
“I still have my down days but I’m much better. I just hope that speaking out can help people.”
Over three days in May, Nicky will cycle a total of 120 miles before running the Edinburgh marathon in honour of his late friend Joe Cooke and to generate cash for Inverclyde’s own suicide prevention charity, The Anchor.
Joe tragically died on May 10, 2023, aged just 42 after suffering an aneurysm and a cardiac arrest brought on by undiagnosed polycystic kidney disease.
Nicky, 34, had been a close friend of Joe’s for 10 years and was devastated when he passed away.
Nicky Low and Dawn Cooke (Image: George Munro)
On May 22, Nicky will cycle 60 miles from the Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll to Parkhead, and will cover a further 60 miles from Parkhead to Edinburgh the following day.
The day after he finishes his Edinburgh cycle, Nicky will run the city’s marathon.
Nicky recently suffered an injury to his ankle – but he’s determined to give the challenge his all.
He said: “After the two cycles I will be really fatigued, so it’s going to be really intriguing taking on the marathon.
“It will definitely be interesting!
“I’m looking forward to it and it’s for an amazing cause.”
In 2024, Nicky walked from Parkhead to Greenock and back, and last year, he ran 48 miles in 48 hours.
Joe Cooke (Image: Dawn Barilli)
Over the last three years, Joe’s wife Dawn has raised around £60,000 for Inverclyde charities – and Nicky’s physical challenges have generated around £10,000 of that total.
Dawn, 42, said: “This is definitely his biggest challenge to date.
“Nicky has been an absolutely fantastic support to me and my kids.
“He has been phenomenal.
“Without him, we wouldn’t have raised half as much as we have.”
(Image: George Munro)
Dawn’s fundraisers in memory of Joe have generated cash for causes including the renal unit and oncology departments at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Ardgowan Hospice, and Mind Mosaic Child and Family Therapies.
She said Joe would be backing Nicky’s challenge for The Anchor ‘one hundred per cent’.
Dawn added: “Joe didn’t suffer from any mental health issues and he was a very positive guy.
“He was the counsellor of the group and would sort out other people’s problems.
“These are vital services that we need here in Inverclyde due to deprivation and the mental health issues being experienced by children and adults.
“Joe was my biggest supporter.
“He would say we were all crazy but he would be completely behind what we were doing.”
Dawn said she hopes Nicky’s mammoth challenge can raise around £10,000 but added that she’s grateful for every donation received.
The sponsors for Nicky’s challenge are Liam Martin Gas Services, Craig Molloy Coaching, Bonnie Competitions, and Clyde Eats.
Dawn also thanked the team at The Exchange, and the whole of the Inverclyde community, for all their amazing support.
Events after Nicky’s challenge include Joe’s memorial football tournament in June, a Ben Nevis climb in August, and a ladies’ day in September.
Dawn said this will be the last year of fundraising in memory of Joe and said she’s very thankful to everyone who has supporter her.
Nicky added: “Dawn should be so proud of herself.
“The money that she raises makes a massive difference to the people of Inverclyde.”
