Stan Collymore's Biography

Stan Collymore, who used to play Premiership football, found himself in the front pages of the tabloids more than the back in the latter part of his footballing career.

In 1998, Collymore admitted punching his then girlfriend Ulrika Jonsson; and in 2004 he admitted 'dogging' - going to car parks in search of sex with strangers.

Collymore once dated Jonsson, his future wife Estelle, and Davina McCall all at the same time.

Stan Collymore was born on 22 January 1971 in Cannock in the Midlands.

Whilst a teenager Stan Collymore joined Walsall as a trainee. After leaving Stafford Rangers in the Conference league, Collymore joined Crystal Palace, but left after being annoyed at taunts over his accent.

Collymore moved to Southend and was then transferred for £2 million to Nottingham Forest and helped them to promotion to the Premier League.

Collymore moved on again. This time, in 1995, his transfer fee was a record £8.5m when he signed for Liverpool.

He had a strong start, but it was not long before he fell out of favour and left.

His subsequent clubs included Aston Villa, Leicester, Bradford and Spanish side Real Oviedo. Stan Collymore, in spite of his talent, was not able to settle down for any football side and he quit football in 2001 aged 30.

Brought up in a single parent family - his father used to beat his mother - Collymore has received counselling at the Priory at various times.

Stan Collymore's childhood and depression were explored in the BBC series, My Childhood.

Collymore, who once appeared on the reality TV show The Farm, has written an autobiography, Tackling My Demons.

He also had a role as Kevin Franks in Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction.

Along with the likes of Jennifer Ellison, Patsy Palmer, Michael Portillo and Ingrid Tarrant, Stan Collymore was on the jury of the BBC Two courtroom show The Verdict.

Stan Collymore was often used as a football pundit on BBC Radio Five Live, however, he went on to become a regular on TalkSport with his own show Call Collymore.

In February 2008, in the aftermath of Paul Gascoigne being sectioned, the BBC reported how Stan Collymore criticised the PFA, the footballers' union, saying on Radio Five Live:

"I struggled with massive bouts of depression to the borderline of being sectioned.

"There have been many, many times in the past four or five years when I really could have done with the help of my football union.

"Since finishing playing, I've not had one phone call from the PFA and there's been times when I've asked for help or it's been obvious I've needed it."

In January 2014, Stan Collymore accused Twitter of not doing enough to counter abuse after he was targeted by internet trolls.

In July 2016, Collymore announced that he was leaving TalkSport radio after 8 years after his contract was not renewed.