Read this book thinking it was just another football story, however the truth and honesty of the man came shining through. I didn’t want to live like this and I didn’t want to die like this either, strung out on booze, coke and paranoia. And, although it’s dangerous and illegal, some people seem to dabble in drugs without craving them constantly.

Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery by Paul

Even when I confessed, begged for help and went into treatment at the end of the year, it suited everybody to play down the amount of cocaine I stuck up my nose.He has not had a bet since then but he received another jolt last August when his good friends Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas and Matt Le Tissier were all axed from Soccer Saturday. I was doing a couple of grams down the pub, then many more at home, sitting in the dark gambling, drinking and snorting until I was driven to the brink of madness. From the 2012–2015 season Merson co-hosted with John Fendley on the Sky Sports TV programme 'Fantasy Football Club'. When manager Glenn Hoddle told him he was out of the squad, Gazza turned into Keith Moon and started smashing up the furniture.

Paul Merson: ‘Gambling is a horrible addiction. Your career Paul Merson: ‘Gambling is a horrible addiction. Your career

In the harrowing passage, Merson pleads for help with his problem, even saying 'God help me' as he looked to overcome his demons. Wolves fan found guilty of racially abusing Rio Ferdinand during clash with Manchester United in 2021. 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. In 2002, he signed for second-tier Portsmouth and captained the club to the First Division Championship title and promotion to the Premier League. They were too obscure to be given Teletext updates so I took to ringing up the lady on the club’s switchboard for the score every few minutes.Merson led a bid to retain Division One status, but was hindered by a last-minute penalty against Crystal Palace, and eventually relegated after a 3–2 victory against Rotherham United whilst having to rely on Stoke City beating Gillingham on the final day. Merson went on to play for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Portsmouth, as well as Walsall - where he was also manager. Football pundit Paul Merson breaks down in tears on Good Morning Britain as he opens up on his harrowing struggles with gambling addiction. As a recovering gambling addict, this was a great reminder of the importance of communication as the illness thrives on isolation.

Hooked by Paul Merson | Headline Publishing Group, home of

Merson also played in the 1993 US Cup against Brazil and Germany, nearly scoring in a 2–1 defeat to the later, Bodo Illgner saving from a 20-yard shot. I arranged a bank loan on the day my son Charlie was born and spent most of the day in the bookies while Lorraine was in labour. The move doubled my wages, but Lorraine refused to move north and I stopped going to addicts’ meetings. I have seen him before and genuinely think he is a great guy both in terms of his playing career (being an Arsenal fan), his tv work but also his story in terms of the honesty he shows with his own demons.He was in a terrible state when I caught up with him in his room, bleeding, crying, not making sense. Alun Wyn Jones urges Welsh rugby not to 'paper over the cracks' despite their run to the World Cup quarter-finals. He reckons he played his best football at Villa but I remember his remarkable performances of 90/91. The father-of-eight hoped that by appearing on GMB, he could help others that are going through the same problem. Then, in the car park, this 75-year-old geezer comes up to me: ‘I just want to say, Merson, I’ve been coming to the Den 60-odd years and I’ve never seen what I seen today.

Paul Merson breaks down in tears as Susanna Reid reads Paul Merson breaks down in tears as Susanna Reid reads

An amazing sports speaker, Paul ensures the whole audience feel a part of his journey in professional football and enjoys engaging with the crowd and putting his punditry work to use during talks about the game. SIMON JORDAN:In a modern game of nation states and billionaires, there should always be a place for people. First half of Man United's clash with FC Copenhagen ends EARLY after referee blows his whistle before 45 minutes. Similar to those guys Merse feels clear on the pitch but that feels like his only respite from his addiction demons. Merson ended up in a dangerous area and was involved in trying to break up a fight while very drunk himself.I politely declined when I was first offered drugs in the Mousetrap, a lively pub in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, in February 1994. I’ve lost millions and almost destroyed my self-respect, but the fog in my mind is finally clearing.