'Players are only human'

Ronan Boyce has spoken of the dangers of social media and its potential effects on players’ mental health.

Last week, Bohemians announced that goalkeeper James Talbot would be taking a break from the game to address mental health issues. It is an aspect of the game which is rarely talked about, and Boyce admits that the pressures that come with performing week in and week out in front of large crowds can have its drawbacks.

“Fans sometimes wouldn’t know what’s going on in peoples’ lives, because at the end of the day we’re only human,” he explained. “For example, going online after a bad result can’t be good for you. If you make a mistake and you go online you get targeted. It’s a massive thing now, mental health and if can affect anybody. It’s not easy and I just hope that James gets the support he needs and he recovers from it, because it can happen to anyone at any given time.”

Boyce is entering his fourth season as a senior player at the Brandywell and he has learned from experience that social media can be damaging.

“I think I got better with experience,” he said. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but sometimes you can’t look at it because some if it is complete lies, and if you’re young player and you look at it, it can affect you. The most important opinions are that of your manager, your team mates and your family. That’s all that matters.

“I just think by looking at Facebook or whatever social media, you’re going to get criticised after a bad result, and fans are entitled to their opinion, but you can’t look too much into it because you don’t want it to affect you the next week or the week after. You just try and do your best and that’s all you can do really.  “

The 22-year-old believes that support for the mental health of players has vastly improved in recent times, with Derry City itself having its own well-being officers in Gerry McLaughlin and Gary McLaughlin. The players also met with a representative of the PFAI earlier this week, ahead of what is expected to be a demanding and pressure-filled season.

“I think the support is there,” Boyce added. “The PFAI are brilliant with us and they will come up and have these conversations with us. They are there to support us.

“We have a lot of support in the club also – we have people who have been there and done that and if you do have a bad game, or you make a mistake, or you’re under the spotlight a bit, you have people there in the club who can help you and get you through tough times. I know that mental health is important and it can sometimes affect players’ performances, but there is good support there definitely.”

Derry City’s pre-season preparations were disrupted with a game at the Sligo Showgrounds called off, just days after a game on a very difficult surface at Finn Park.

“It was horrible to be honest, but I think it was just this time of year,” Boyce said. “The important thing is that we got minutes in the legs and we got through it. As long as there were no injuries that was the main thing. Getting through these games is a good thing because they will stand to you during the season.

“In the last two pre-seasons I got injured so my focus this time is to come out of it unscathed and injury-free and be as fit as I can. During the last two seasons, I have bene playing catch up and it does take a while to get match fit which is why these pre-season games coming up are so important.”

Boyce and his team mates head into the new season with two new additions in Daniel Kelly and Pat Hoban. Both players have won it all in the League of Ireland and Boyce admits their arrival has boosted the whole squad.

“They have been there and done it,” he acknowledged. “It’s massive because they know what it takes to get over the line.

"They are two massive players in the League of Ireland and I think Pat is the all-time top goalscorer in Dundalk’s history, while Daniel has scored consistently and has got good numbers in every season he’s played in. They will definitely make us better and that’s what you want at this club, and that’s maybe what we were missing last year.”