Professional footballer Omar Bogle returned to the pitch with an emotional appearance on November 8, 2025. His final mark came on June 1, when he scored a last-minute goal that clinched the 3-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town. This ground-breaking move followed a tough-won struggle with pain killer addiction that almost ended his career. Bogle has netted more than 150 senior goals, a testament to his scoring prowess. He’s doing all of this while courageously sharing the struggles he experienced in his fight with addiction.
Our shared journey started when Bogle suffered a debilitating back fracture in 2024 that forced him to depend on pain medications for relief. Although he originally prescribed medication only for two to three weeks post-injury, he continued to increase dosages over the months. His addiction progressed to the extent that his mental and physical health was greatly impacted.
The Struggles of Addiction
At the peak of his addiction, Bogle said it led to terrible mood swings and a crushing feeling of loneliness. He would often retreat from social interactions, spending days in darkness, watching television, and scrolling through his phone without speaking to anyone. This troubled his agent, Jake Speight, who started to notice red flags and worry about Bogle’s state of mind.
“I was in darkness, depressed, with suicidal thoughts. I do not think a day went by where I didn’t have suicidal thoughts.” – Omar Bogle
Though he was aware of the dangers posed by his actions, Bogle found himself caught in a dependence loop. He confided, “I wished on occasion that I wouldn’t wake up,” a glimpse into his hopelessness. Not until he finally entered treatment in August 2025 did he start to feel any sense of direction for his recovery journey.
A Supportive Network
Bogle credits most of his recovery to the hometown support that came pouring in, especially from Speight, who he said is like family. Speight’s vigilance was crucial for Bogle to understand just how bad things were and how in danger he was. That sparked a move from Evans to Bogle, who returned to pre-season training just 12 days later. It was obvious that he was a wreck … mentally and physically.
Bogle today recognizes addiction is rampant across sports and the duty to take a stand. “My message is: tell someone. When people are depressed, suicidal or in a dark place, the guilt and shame make it worse. We internalise it,” he stated.
“I am sure others in football and sport are going through it as well. In rehab you become aware of how big a problem it is.” – Omar Bogle
Bogle’s candid admission of his battle with addiction is meant to give hope and encouragement to anyone else who might be facing the same fight.
A Return to Form
Having fully recovered, Bogle was, against all odds, able to come back with a roaring return on-pitch. He found the net twice in an EFL Trophy fixture against Burton and then netted the winner against Shrewsbury. The excitement his return has generated, however, is restoring hope across the board. His fans and teammates know all too well about his resiliency.
“It helps to know someone else is going through it and you are not the only one.” – Omar Bogle
With that renewed purpose in hand, Bogle now understands that he can indeed “dream again.” He’s hard at work trying to get his groove back. He wants his experience to encourage those currently fighting their own substance use or mental health issues.
Leave a Reply