FORMER Manchester United star Luke Chadwick has accepted apologies from Gary Lineker and Nick Hancock for cruel jibes about his looks.
The ex-footballer recently admitted gags about his appearance on BBC’s They Think It’s All Over killed his confidence.
It came at the time he was trying to make his mark at Premier League giants Manchester United.
Chadwick’s revelations led to host of the hit 1990’s show Hancock and team captain Lineker to issue grovelling apologies for their behaviour.
Former Spurs and England star Lineker responded on Twitter, saying: “I was part of that show, therefore, I too would like to apologise to @luke_FFF for any hurt caused”
And Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “Listening to Luke is incredibly humbling.
“He’s shown so much more generosity and understanding and good judgement than we did at the time.
“I’m appalled for him and at myself.”
Now Chadwick, who is currently a coach at Cambridge United, has spoken out to accept the pair’s apologies.
And he hopes his story can inspire others to “be a bit kinder to each other”.
Speaking to MailOnline, he said: “Of course I accept their apologies.
“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of anything — I just wanted to share my experiences.
“Maybe we can all be a bit kinder to each other.
“It has been a very difficult time for everyone, this [coronavirus] pandemic, and we have all been through it.
“If any good comes out the other side, maybe people will have nicer words for each other.”
Various segments of the show that ran from 1996 until 2006 poked fun at Chadwick’s appearance, which he says “stunted his growth” as a person.
Speaking to The Athletic, Chadwick revealed the torment he went through.
The 39-year-old said: “When they started bringing it [my appearance] up, they were bringing me to the attention of millions of people.
“I remember the first time and someone texting me to say, ‘Nice appearance on They Think It’s All Over’.
“I was so shocked because I was quite naive back then, even if I was playing occasionally for Manchester United.
“I watched it the next week and I could see people laughing at these jokes about me. It was obviously funny to other people but, to me, it didn’t feel like that.”
BLIGHTED BY TAUNTS
Chadwick made only 39 appearances in all competitions for United, spending time on loan at Royal Antwerp, Reading and Burnley.
A certain David Beckham occupied the right flank during much of Chadwick’s time at Old Trafford.
He joined West Ham on a free in 2004, and went on to finish his playing career with Soham Town Rangers in non-league.
But Chadwick clearly feels his time on the pitch was blighted by cruel taunts off it – with the hit BBC show playing a big part.
And he admits to now knowing whether he should have complained to the channel or not and how he was left “praying it would stop”.
He added: “I would dread every Friday. I wasn’t a hugely confident guy anyway and this just made it worse.
“I used to half-watch it, hoping and praying that they would stop. But they never did. It just carried on and on.
“I always asked myself whether I should have tried to speak to them [the BBC] about it.”
