'Men need to speak up when they don't feel well'

Former Ipswich Town player Simon Milton has encouraged men to speak about their health after he was taken ill while watching a football match.

Milton, 62, said he suffered a "massive seizure" while working as a club ambassador a year ago during a Town game against AFC Bournemouth at Portman Road.

After various tests, he said it had been down to his lifestyle, which he has completely changed to be more healthy and active.

He added it had been a wake-up call and said more men needed to speak out when they felt unwell.

Milton said on the day of the match, it had been "no different from any other day" as he worked.

During the game, he sat in the director's box with many other ex-players, and it was not until a goal was scored that he started to feel unwell.

"In the first half, Conor Chaplin scored our first goal, and it was probably 30 minutes into the game," he explained.

"In my row, I am surrounded by former players... and everybody is up because we've scored.

"That moment, I felt something different."

Milton felt dizzy, had a head rush, his ears popped, and he felt as though he would lose his balance at any moment.

"Then I sat back down, and from that period until half time, I knew I wasn't quite right, but like most men, I never said anything," he added.

Within 10 minutes of the first half, Milton said he suffered a seizure, and the next thing he remembered was waking up in hospital two hours later, surrounded by family.

In the weeks following, tests were done on his brain and heart, but all came back clear, so his neurosurgeon suggested improvements should be made to his lifestyle.

Milton said he did not have a "crazy" lifestyle, but he was often busy and did feel as if he was "invincible".

He went on to lower his alcohol consumption, improve his diet and be more active.

"It wasn't just a wake-up call for me, it's almost been a wake-up call for all of my friends who are my age, all of the players," he continued.

"Because a lot of people went, 'well, I always thought you were fit, and you were OK'.

"It can happen to anyone... if you're not feeling great, go and tell someone, go and speak to people about it, get yourself checked out.

"With all these things... guys need to share things more, speak more about how they feel and what they're going through, but your health is absolutely vital."

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