• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Luke Ayling Bravely Opens Up On Dealing With A Stammer After Years Of Avoiding Interviews

Home> Football

Published 12:34 31 Mar 2022 GMT+1

Luke Ayling Bravely Opens Up On Dealing With A Stammer After Years Of Avoiding Interviews

Respect.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Luke Ayling used to "shy away" from interviews when he first arrived at Leeds United because of his stammer, but the full-back is now doing more in front of the camera to find his own voice.

The 30-year-old defender, who joined the ranks at Elland Road in 2016, has bravely opened up about his stammer in an interview with the BBC, where he speaks candidly about the consequences it has on his every day life.

Image credit: BBC
Image credit: BBC

In a chat with presenter Emma Louise Jones, the former Yeovil player speaks about having his partner order a meal from the drive-thru because of "insecurities" and the reaction from his previous interviews online.

Advert

“When I first came to Leeds, I wasn’t comfortable at all doing interviews,” Ayling said in an interview with BBC that is set to air on Thursday.

“And I’ve kind of got to a point now where I just don’t care. If I do an interview and I have a stutter, I see a lot of things online when people say that I say ‘then’ and ‘like’ a lot but that’s my safety blanket kind of thing.

“Because I know that I can get those words out. I see a lot of people who maybe don’t know that I’ve got a stutter say ‘all I hear is then and like’. I just got to a point where I just thought, do you know what, I’m doing an interview with somebody who wants to speak to me and who actually wants to hear what I’ve got to say so why am I scared to do it? Because I shied away for so long from doing it.

“But I will still go to a drive-thru and I’ll be sat in the driver’s seat and I’ll still make my missus order it because I don’t want to do it. So, I still have those insecurities.

Advert

“It’s horrible because I sit here and I’ve got loads of things that I want to say but I know I can’t get them out so I just ramble on. That’s probably why I’m quite loud in the dressing room and just don’t care because I just say what I feel.”

Ayling, who failed to make the grade at Arsenal as a youngster, says his decision to join Yeovil Town in 2010 was the right one.

"I got released at 18 and knew I had to fight to make a career for myself. Whether that was in League One, Championship or whatever," he said.

Advert

"The biggest thing for me was getting out and playing men's football. I was comfortable in Arsenal reserves but it wasn't doing much for my career.

"So I decided to take the step to Yeovil and I certainly feel I made the right decision."

The full-back has since made over 200 appearances for Leeds after a four year spell at Yeovil.

Featured Image Credit: BBCMOTD/Twitter

Topics: Leeds United, Premier League

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

22 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • 22 mins ago

    Erik ten Hag to get rid of Bayer Leverkusen player for the second time after selling him to the club while in charge of Man Utd

    Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag looks poised to get rid of the same player for two different clubs.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Fans lose their minds and say 'announce Yamal' after Barcelona superstar spotted in Premier League club's shirt

    Lamine Yamal sent fans wild this week after being seen in an iconic English football shirt.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Sir Alex Ferguson ripped into former Man Utd star for what he allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to do

    Sir Alex Ferguson lectured the former Manchester United player following the incident with Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Football
  • 5 hours ago

    Football legend reveals he was on the verge of signing for Man Utd after idolising Old Trafford star for years

    The player represented the likes of Barcelona, Inter and AC Milan during his career but never got the chance to play for Manchester United.

    Football
  • Wilfried Zaha addresses rumour about David Moyes' daughter as he opens up on 'lowest point of his career' at Man Utd
  • Roy Keane's former teammate opens up on 'confusing' incident which cost ex-Man Utd captain £12,000
  • Michael Smith opens up on debilitating medical condition that he's been fighting for 'four years'
  • Football legend reveals he was on the verge of signing for Man Utd after idolising Old Trafford star for years