Warnock hid seizures from Liverpool as a youngster

Former Liverpool and Premier League footballer Warnock reveals he hid seizures during his youth at Anfield, fearing release if the club discovered his condition.

Stephen Warnock, the 44-year-old pundit and former Premier League footballer who made 67 appearances for Liverpool, has opened up publicly for the first time about suffering seizures as a youngster in the club's youth setup.

Warnock experienced his first seizure at school while at a computer, waking up in a hospital bed with no memory of the incident. After another seizure at his house, he underwent CT and MRI scans. The condition persisted for around three years before he "grew out of it" by age 14, without requiring medication.

Fearing the club would release him if they discovered his condition, Warnock kept the seizures secret from Liverpool throughout his youth career. "I was petrified of telling Liverpool because I was worried of being released," he said. "If they think I've got a condition they will release me." He was particularly anxious about having a seizure on the pitch, as he had no identifiable triggers. Warnock went on to play for Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Leeds United before retiring in 2018. He has not experienced a seizure since age 14 but still worries about it recurring.