Stephen Warnock says he hid childhood seizures from Liverpool over release fears

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock says he concealed seizures from the club as a youngster because he feared being released. BBC Sport reported that the 44-year-old discussed his experiences on BBC Radio 5 Live, where he now works as a pundit, in response to an interview with Hull City midfielder Matt Crooks, who has epilepsy.

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Warnock said it was the first time he had really spoken publicly about what happened. He described having a handful of seizures while he was in Liverpool's youth system and said he worried that disclosing a medical condition would cost him his place. He also feared a seizure occurring on the pitch because he did not know what triggered them.

His first seizure happened at school while he was using a computer. Warnock recalled waking up in a hospital bed without remembering how he had arrived there. Friends subsequently told him that he had suffered a seizure, and an ambulance had taken him to hospital. He said the experience left him embarrassed, with neither he nor those around him familiar with what had happened.

After another seizure at home, Warnock said he was sent for CT and MRI scans. He described the episodes as taking place over roughly three years. His account centred on the uncertainty of when another might happen, alongside his reluctance to tell Liverpool. The fear of losing his football opportunity accompanied his concerns about experiencing an episode during a match.

Warnock said he has not had a seizure since the age of 14, although he still worries about one happening again. Describing his own experience, he said he had grown out of the episodes and had not needed medication. He also said he had not faced concerns about driving that he associated with the condition.

Warnock went on to make 67 appearances for Liverpool after progressing through their youth setup. He later played for Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Leeds United before retiring in 2018. His disclosure on 5 Live came as Crooks's interview prompted him to discuss a childhood experience he had previously kept private.