Lamp Lunchtime With… Steven Caulker
Friday, 16th May 2025
12 until 3pm
Chutney Ivy Restaurant, 41 Halford Street, Leicester LE1 1TR
Ticket – £36 (including VAT) PP
Steven Caulker, is a professional footballer who has experienced the highs and lows of the beautiful game—both on and off the pitch. Known for his towering presence as a central defender, Caulker’s career has taken him from the Premier League to
international football, while his candid openness about mental health has made him a powerful advocate for change beyond the sport.
Caulker’s footballing journey began in the youth ranks of Tottenham Hotspur, where he quickly rose through the system thanks to his athleticism, composure on the ball, and natural leadership.
In 2011, Caulker made his Premier League debut for Spurs. But it was during a loan spell at Swansea City in the 2011–12 season that he truly broke into top-flight football, playing a pivotal role in their impressive debut Premier League campaign under Brendan Rodgers.
Caulker returned to Spurs and scored his first Premier League goal in 2012 against Manchester City. That same year, he made his England senior debut, scoring in a 4-2 defeat to Sweden—a rare feat for a defender and a proud moment in his career.
He later signed for Cardiff City in 2013 for a reported £8 million and was named club captain. Despite his leadership, the team was relegated, prompting a move to Queens Park Rangers (QPR). His time at QPR was marked by a string of loan spells, including stints at Southampton and Liverpool, where he was briefly deployed as a backup striker due to injuries.
Caulker’s club career after QPR was turbulent, with moves to Dundee in Scotland, then Alanyaspor and Fenerbahçe in Turkey, and eventually to Sierra Leone’s national team, whom he chose to represent through his paternal heritage. He captained the side in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, marking a new chapter in his international career.
Despite early success, Caulker’s career was deeply affected by personal demons. He battled depression, anxiety, and addiction—including gambling and alcohol—issues that plagued him even during the peak of his footballing days. In a groundbreaking interview with The Guardian in 2017, Caulker opened up about his struggles, including suicidal thoughts and time spent in rehab.
His honesty broke down barriers in a sport where vulnerability is often seen as weakness. He became one of the first high-profile players to publicly discuss mental health in such raw terms, inspiring others to seek help and fostering important conversations in the football world.
Caulker’s experiences have given him a profound sense of purpose beyond the pitch. In recent years, he’s become a mental health advocate, speaking candidly about his journey in schools, football clubs, and through media outlets. His story has been featured in documentaries, podcasts, and conferences focused on well-being and recovery.
He has also embraced faith and sobriety, crediting his transformation to a renewed spiritual path and the support systems he’s built over time. Caulker has spent time working in community outreach, especially in Sierra Leone, where he’s helped support youth through sport and education initiatives.
His later career in Turkey also showed a more settled side to him, as he focused on regaining fitness, mental clarity, and leadership, both on and off the field.
Martin Ballard will be our host.
CHUTNEY IVY RESTAURANT & BAR will be serving up a beautiful 2-course lunch and all profits will be going towards Lamp Charity’s Independent Community Mental Health support across Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland.
