Former England football captain Terry Butcher has opened up about the tragic loss of his army captain son Chris and how it affected his family, in an exclusive interview with HELLO!.

Terry, 67, is known for his incredible football career, playing for Ipswich Town and Rangers and representing his country in three FIFA World Cups between 1982 and 1990 alongside the likes of Glen Hoddle, Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne.

Many will remember the now-iconic photo of Terry in a heavily blood-soaked shirt from a forehead cut during a 1990 World Cup qualifier match, in which he continued to play despite being injured.

Sadly, life was to take a devastating turn for Terry and his family, when in October 2017 they suffered an unimaginable loss.

Terry’s his eldest son Chris lost his life at age 35 while battling the mental health condition Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Chris, who was a Captain in the Royal Artillery, had served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Now, in a new ITV4 documentary called Butcher: Invisible Wounds airing on 9 June, Terry opens up about the heartbreak of losing Chris, emotionally sharing how his family have coped and speaking passionately about supporting others in a similar situation.

Remembering the dark days after Chris’ death, Terry tells us how he and his wife Rita became isolated as they processed their grief.

“We didn’t want to go and see people because you don’t know what people are going to say,” he reveals. “You think, have we got a sign on our heads like ‘my son just passed away, we have a death in the family’. You’re not a different person and you don’t look differently, but inside your whole world’s upside down.

“I still think about the times that we just sat there in the dark and we looked at all the cards and the messages coming through. We’d sit there and cry and have cups of tea and biscuits.

“Then when the cards stopped coming in, what do you do then? We still sat there and cried and had cups of tea, and I think we both realised then we’ve got to get on with life. And you do. We’re quite stoic and old school – and that’s what you want to try and eliminate.”

Making the documentary

Creating the documentary was a way to reach out to other veterans and their families, to encourage them to seek help and talk.

“I’m really proud of it,” he says. “I’ve lived the story: my career, then tragedy and then hope.

“It’s invisible wounds and it’s very true because you can’t see PTSD. You can see a broken leg or an amputation or something like that – those people that have had severe injuries like that have got PTSD as well, so you helped to heal the visible wound, but the invisible wound is [still] there.

“You’ve got to make sure that that invisible wound gets treated as well as the physical wound. I’d like to see help for them to talk to people, therapists.”

He adds: “There are families and servicemen and women that are suffering. I want a better world for them, and I want them to enjoy their lives together.

“I want people to see the film and say, ‘You know what, I’m going to make a difference, I’m going to help someone. I’m going to volunteer or I’m going to say to somebody, ‘Are you OK?’ and start conversations. We’ve got to talk more.

“If you know veterans, just ask them one question, ‘How are you?’ They’ll probably say. ‘Yeah, I’m OK’, because my son said, ‘Hey I’ll be alright’ and he wasn’t. You’ve got to keep on asking, be persistent, because it’s worth it in the end. You don’t want that family to go on the journey that we had.”

Combat2Coffee

Terry helps such families in his role as patron of Combat2Coffee, a community interest company that supports veterans and their families. It was founded in 2018 by ex-soldier, prison officer, and firefighter Nigel Seaman, and gives these families the chance to come together and talk over a coffee.

“There’s so many families out there that need to take that first step, and if they can take that first step, then everybody benefits,” says Terry.

Remembering Chris

The former footballer fondly recalls how his son Chris loved to help people too.

“He was a force of nature, he was a character, a leader, strong. He knew what he wanted, he totally committed to whatever thing he was doing: golf, cricket, rugby, American football. And he wanted to help people. He knew how to talk to people, he had a lot of respect for people.”

He adds with a smile: “But he could be a devil as well! He had a cheeky smile. He probably gets it from me – I can be a real devil!”

Footballing legend

A talented footballer with a brilliant sense of humour, Terry is adored by fans and players alike.

His proudest football moment?

He thinks for a moment. “Playing for the first team at Ipswich, then captaining Ipswich, playing in the World Cup semi-final [1990] and following in Bobby Moore’s footsteps. And there was a player called Kevin Beattie who played for Ipswich and both wore number 6, and that’s my favourite number. They were my idols and heroes.”

On the subject of that blood-soaked shirt and forehead cut, Terry says: “I didn’t feel anything because of the adrenaline, the excitement, the responsibility and because you’re captain – you just dismissed it from your mind, and it didn’t hurt really.

“Obviously for the stitching they had to [numb] the area so I didn’t feel it much after that. It only kicked in when we flew back to England that night.”

He confirms he’ll be watching this summer’s World Cup.

“I think we’ve got a good chance,” he says. “You need that bit of luck, but you also need the players to be really perfectly tuned and perfectly looked after, which I’m sure they will be. I think sometimes teams win games on guts and determination, and that’s what you’ve got to have as well as ability. You’ve got to want it. The teams that have won the World Cups really wanted it, probably more than the others.”

Penalties haven’t been England’s forte over the years, as we all know, and Terry empathises. “I only took one penalty in my career and I scored from it. I said I’ll never take another one. It was terrifying!”

He has some very simple advice for the current England squad as they embark on the 2026 World Cup. “Win!” he enthuses. “Win at all costs.”

Butcher: Invisible Wounds will be broadcast on itv4 at 10pm on Tuesday 9th June and available on ITVX afterwards