Twenty years ago, Cedric Anselin was playing alongside Zinedine Zidane for Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup final against Bayern Munich.

Eastern Daily Press: NORWICH RESERVES V SWINDON RESERVES (CEDRIC ANSELIN) AT CARROW ROAD, NORWICH. PICTURE ARCHANT LIBRARYNORWICH RESERVES V SWINDON RESERVES (CEDRIC ANSELIN) AT CARROW ROAD, NORWICH. PICTURE ARCHANT LIBRARY (Image: Archant)

Aged just 18, he was a young man with a bright football future.

Today the former Norwich City midfielder has a darker story to tell - one of a secret battle with depression that has cost him his marriage and diminished and haunted him for 14 years.

It is a story that almost had a tragic end when he planned a suicide bid less than a fortnight ago. It was thankfully averted when he contacted former footballer Clarke Carlisle, who helped him to change his mind.

It is also a story of hope and encouragement.

Eastern Daily Press: Southern League Football: King's Lynn (Blue/Gold) v Gloucester (Red/White). Lynn Player: Cedric Anselin.Photo:IAN BURTSouthern League Football: King's Lynn (Blue/Gold) v Gloucester (Red/White). Lynn Player: Cedric Anselin.Photo:IAN BURT (Image: Archant © 2004)

For 39-year-old Cedric is speaking out about mental health in a bid to get others to do the same - and particularly targeting younger men, who are at the highest risk of suicide but also often feel unable to talk about their problems.

He said: 'I'm ill. For me to talk today is difficult, but if I can help anybody it is worth it. Unfortunately there's a lot of people who don't admit it. I was one of those people.

'I lost confidence, lost my self-belief and lost my family.

Cedric, from Spixworth, is married to Lynsey and they have two sons, Hugo, eight and Luca, six. He is living alone after his wife left with the children – a decision he acknowledged was the result of years of trying her to cope with the mood swings triggered by his mental illness.

Eastern Daily Press: NORWICH CITY V. BIRMINGHAM CITY AT CARROW ROAD.CEDRIC ANSELIN IN ACTION. PICTURE KEITH WHITMORENORWICH CITY V. BIRMINGHAM CITY AT CARROW ROAD.CEDRIC ANSELIN IN ACTION. PICTURE KEITH WHITMORE

'Lynsey was my rock. She looked after everything and kept my family together – now suddenly she's not there. I didn't know where to turn and two Mondays ago I didn't want to be in the world any more.

'Everything was dark and cloudy. I had battled depression for 14 years and lost my football career and the love of my life.

'I left early for work and had planned what I was going to do. But then I remember calling Darren Eadie and leaving a voicemail, then calling Clarke Carlisle. He answered and we had a long chat.

'He said I needed to surround myself with close friends. I got a GP appointment the next day and they put me on medication straightaway. Then on the Wednesday I saw the crisis team from Hellesdon Hospital. They see me every day at the moment.'

He has also seen a rapid decline in his weight, losing 15kg in recent months.

'Depression is vicious. I became selfish and tried to control people. I didn't want to go out because I was scared. I was pretending to be happy but I was grumpy and miserable with my wife and children.

'I stayed at home because I trusted those four walls.'

Cedric said the decline began soon after he was released by Norwich City in 2001, having played a handful of matches in a couple of years.

He said: 'Being a professional footballer was my dream and I achieved it. It is still difficult to accept that I didn't make the most of it. I regret my life and regret how I have been.'

He added: 'You start to feel anxious and the clubs don't call. You panic and feel rejected. But you don't admit there's something wrong with you.'

With a strong network of friends, including many former footballers, Cedric said he was dealing with his illness – helped by his job.

He works at Open Academy in Norwich, guiding 30 16- to 18-year-olds through BTec level three sports and fitness – a job he 'absolutely loves', adding: 'Work gives me a reason to get out of bed.'

Cedric's message to others suffering from anxiety and depression was to 'take that first step and admit it. Get help'.