Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery

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I even swerved a home European match with ‘tonsillitis’ because I was scared that Uefa competitions had mandatory drugs tests. Barcelona kid Marc Guiu, 17, scores the winner just 30 seconds after coming off the bench for his debut as Xavi unearths another gem A leading football speaker, Paul Merson is undoubtedly one of the characters of football, enjoying a successful professional football career as well as turning his hand to managerial and punditry work. An ideal football speaker for events, Paul describes the drive and determination needed to perform at a high level consistently, combined with the ability to perform under the pressure of the media and fans. Playing for highly successful clubs has given Paul the insight into life at the top, allowing him to deliver intriguing talks as a football speaker. Beginning his career at Arsenal in 1984 as an apprentice, Paul made his debut for the side in 1986 against Manchester City, before becoming a permanent figure on the team towards the late eighties. Merson signed for Division 1 club Portsmouth on a two-year contract in August 2002, [12] and was instrumental in the club's promotion to the Premiership in 2002–03. Merson, however, felt that he was too old for a return to the Premiership, and wanted to move closer to his home in the West Midlands. In July 2003 he signed a two-year deal at Walsall in the First Division, paying compensation to Portsmouth for his remaining year of contract. [13] Walsall [ edit ] England: The Official F.A History, Niall Edworthy, Virgin Publishers, 1997, ISBN 1-85227-699-1. p. 154.

Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery by Paul

Then Lorraine intervened, calling the Arsenal manager George Graham to get help for me. I felt angry, frightened and cornered but still went out on a five-hour drink-and-drugs bender. I got home to an empty house and cowered in a corner with nothing on, bawling my eyes out, begging for help.

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Man United's Dark Knight, a Euros-winning pirate, the Super Mario LIV golfer and a Lionesses legend as the terrifying Pennywise - can you recognise these sporting stars in their Halloween costumes? Everything I won in my football career came while I was at the height of my addiction. I could never live in the moment and enjoy the team’s achievements. I only thought about what it all meant for drinking and gambling. Paul Charles Merson (born 20 March 1968) is an English former professional footballer, manager, commentator and sports television pundit for Sky Sports. Watter kant': South Africa rugby stars speak in Afrikaans and appear to make light of Bongi Mbonambi's 'white ****' England slur row as they warm up Jude Bellingham's dad posts a heartfelt tribute to his son after the Real Madrid superstar WON the Kopa award at the 2023 Ballon d'Or

Paul Merson on alcoholism, his gambling addiction and Paul Merson on alcoholism, his gambling addiction and

While at Aston Villa Merson considered breaking his own fingers so he could no longer call betting companies. Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images Ange Postecoglou compares Son Heung-min to Cristiano Ronaldo as he reveals why he decided to turn the Spurs star into a centre forward Merson’s eyes are gleaming again, with light rather than tears. “I’ve never been able to sit with my feelings until now. I used to push them down with a bet, with whatever. No one ever sat around a table before dinner and asked: ‘How do you feel?’ But now I say to [his young son] Freddie: ‘How do you feel?’ I know he gets a little nervous before playing football. But I say: ‘It’s not a problem. Remember last week? You had them feelings and they passed.’ Same with me, I might get jealous, insecure, sad. That’s my addiction waiting. It’s out there doing press-ups. But I keep myself around people who love me and I keep talking about it. If I keep doing that I can keep it away. I can stay quiet and happy.”Paul Merson to play for fourth-tier Welsh club Caerau of Maesteg". BBC Sport. 11 October 2017 . Retrieved 11 October 2017.

Paul Merson breaks down in tears while recalling his Paul Merson breaks down in tears while recalling his

I was injured in September 1994 and, at a loose end, ran up enormous debts in a vicious circle: place a bet, snort a line, sink a can of beer. Rinse and repeat. I was frightened of Lorraine finding out and did my best to avoid her. The only solution, my brain was telling me, was to kill myself.Plus, Merson shares his love of Soccer Saturday and the three reminisce on a pilot they filmed for Sky. You can read Donald McRae’s interview with Merson here. I have reached the stage where I’m not going to drink because I know I can’t stop. And I’ve not placed a bet for a year. In August 2006, he commenced a column for the official Arsenal FC magazine. He also continues to play for the England Legends, a 16-man squad of former internationals who have played Italy, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, and the rest of the world. Merson's main job is on Sky Sports, where he is a match reporter and regular pundit for Gillette Soccer Saturday. Merson is often the target of good-humoured jabs from Jeff Stelling and other members of the Soccer Saturday panel; for example, in his attempts to pronounce the names of foreign players. However, Stelling himself, in September 2016, attempted to have Merson agree with him that Ireland international Harry Arter (who had made his debut against England) should get an England call-up in the week Gareth Southgate took over in an emergency capacity following Sam Allardyce's dismissal. [24] Christian Horner suggests Ted Kravitz 'talks out of his a***' after the Sky Sports reporter claimed Max Verstappen was having issues with his car Barcelona reveal CGI footage of their 'insane' stadium's renovation plans which includes a complete upper-tier reconstruction and new Spotify-branded roof