Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery

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In October 2011, Merson was involved in a car crash with a lorry on the M40 motorway near Warwick and arrested for drink-driving. As a recovering gambling addict, this was a great reminder of the importance of communication as the illness thrives on isolation. I feel he covers the same ground repeatedly here and maybe that is the point but it doesn't make for interesting reading.

Hooked by Paul Merson | Headline Publishing Group, home of

On the podcast they cover Merson'’s struggles with addiction to alcohol, drugs and most damagingly, gambling. Merson went on to play for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Portsmouth, as well as Walsall - where he was also manager. I entered rehab thinking I was addicted to one thing – gambling – and left knowing I was addicted to three. 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?

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

Last year, during the first lockdown, Merson spent all his and his wife Kate’s savings in a desolate spree. I wasn’t gambling all the time, but when I did it would spiral until I’d cleaned out my bank account. In 2002, Aston Villa were playing Charlton Athletic away and I was on the phone to the bookies for the whole afternoon like I was a train with no brakes flying down the tracks.He also won a double of the FA Cup and League Cup in 1993, scoring in the 1993 Football League Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday. Since retiring from professional play in 2006, Paul has made his mark as a memorable and well liked TV pundit.