MENZIES ADMITS HE ALMOST PULLED OUT OF WORLDS

By Phil Lanning

CAMERON MENZIES admits his Ally Pally tears moment was the toughest game of his career. 

The Ayrshire ace has been flooded with messages of support after he broke down during the latter stages of the World Championship defeat to Leonard Gates on Monday night. 

Minutes after the match Menzies, 35, posted a pic of himself with seriously ill dad Ricky in hospital as he was struggling to cope with the emotion and facing such a huge Worlds match. 

His Rangers hero and talkSPORT presenter Ally McCoist even called him prior to arriving in London to give him a pep talk. 

Now Menzies has opened up for the first time about the rollercoaster of emotions he has gone through as his dad recovers from a serious op and that he was ready to PULL OUT of the Championship.

He revealed: “My dad is on the mend, a little bit. He’s up and walking. He’s a long way from when I seen him.

“He went in for a triple heart bypass and a new valve and, obviously, when it all closed up, it didn’t go well. 

“They had to like basically put a pump in and he was on dialysis, so that’s when I seen him. I seen him at his worst.

“When I seen him, my mum was there and I, basically, broke down. It’s been a struggle since. It’s basically on the mend, but being six hours away, it’s a struggle.

“I want to see him, but I can’t with this chest infection because, obviously, I don’t want to give him anything at the moment.

“We did think Christmas he was going to be out, but we think it might be earlier, so everything’s massive progress, thankfully.

“I last saw him last over a week ago or something. So I seen him when he was a bit better, but he wasn’t talking much sense. It’s just because down in England and stuff, it’s just a pain, but that’s what it is.”

Menzies also revealed that he was unwell himself and in such emotional turmoil, he told partner Fallon Sherrock that he didn’t want to play at the Ally Pally. 

He added: “I said to Fallon on Sunday that I didn’t want to play.

“I just wasn’t up for it all with the way this month has been. I was in Scotland, there was no practice really because I was seeing the family and stuff.

“Preparation’s not been been great and, with other things that’s happened, I think it’s just got too much of me.

“I went for a practice with James Hurrell on Sunday and I was battered. I was struggling to breathe.

“This wasn’t my dad’s side of it, I was just struggling and that’s how you see me taking deep breaths on the stage.

“That was nothing to do with anxiety. That was not to do with breathing techniques. I was struggling to breathe because of this infection.

“Everything in the lead-up phase and the preparation and it was a bad game. One of those things.

“It just wasn’t great from the start and the game showed it. I’m gutted it’s over, but at the same time, I’m glad it’s over now because I need to just obviously get myself cleared up for health-wise, mentally and physically for next year.

“I’m on another diet at the moment to try and shed some weight.

“Saturday, Sunday, I got a chest infection. So being asthmatic, I’ve been basically couch-bound.

“I lay in bed all day before my game on Monday, drove down, played the game and then I’ve been in bed since.

“I’m still hammered with this. It’s just coughing now. It’s definitely better than what it was.

“I was hoping to go see my dad, but I can’t. I’ve never had a chest infection before, I’m told chest infections can be contagious, so I can’t really see my dad.

“I was hoping to get up this weekend, but obviously not until this is all cleared.

“It’s just been one of those things. It all just came together and stuff. It’s a bit c**p, to be honest.”

Menzies also dismissed that the harrowing scenes on stage when he started to cry wasn’t totally caused by fan abuse. 

He added: “When I realised I was getting beat, I won’t give up.

“My mindset before the game wasn’t great. Usually when I’m up there, I don’t really get involved with the crowd.

“The only time I get involved with the crowd, in fact, is in England. European tours and stuff, they’re kind of non-biased unless you’re playing a home country.

“Over here, it’s the Scotland kinda thing and pantomime villain and stuff, but, usually, I can put it off. So I did struggle with that a little bit as well.

“You see it with other players. Sometimes there’s a dip in form and you don’t know what they are going through.

“They say you just played poorly, but don’t know what is happening behind the scenes.”

Menzies was quick to admit that he had been lifted by loads of support and messages, including a call from McCoist and ex-Rangers star Todd Cantwell. 

He added: “I want to say the amount of messages and stuff have been great and it’s been appreciated. I’m not posting on Facebook or that yet, but I will eventually.

“I got a message from Todd Cantwell. Ally spoke to me.

“At the moment, I just want to be myself. There’s wee spells where I just want to sit and watch telly and not go through my phone and stuff.

“Ally was on the phone and wished me and my dad all the best and he was brand new. He sounds exactly on the phone as he does on the TV.

“I don’t usually answer dodgy numbers, but I knew it was a chat that was going to happen and it cheered me up.”

Menzies also believes that he can come back stronger from his Gazza’s tears of 1990 moment.

He added: “Yeah, I think I will because I think I can’t get any worse than that. I mean, tears in your eyes at Ally Pally, I think will be the lowest for me. I think I’ll be fine.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.