"I was suicidal" - footballers unite to share their experience of problem gambling

A new podcast series is lifting the lid on the untold stories of problem gambling within football.

Football Untold sees current and former players sharing their stories of addiction both within the game and after hanging up their boots.

Among those taking part: former Spurs, Liverpool and QPR defender Steven Caulker, ex-Burnley captain Clarke Carlisle and former Wales international Simon Haworth.

The series also hears from players further down the pyramid, with former Wrexham and Macclesfield midfielder Sam Wedgbury opening up about his battles with gambling addiction.

Opening up the conversation about problem gambling

Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Mick Coyle, the six part series is designed to highlight the realities of life for a problem gambler, and how that can play out when navigating the world of insecure contracts, injury lay-offs and moving constantly around the country.

The players each share their stories of how their problematic behaviour began - and how it reached a point where they had to seek help.

Each is speaking out in the hope it'll encourage other people to seek support before it's too late.

Talking about his own experience of gambling addiction, former PFA Chair Clarke Carlisle told the podcast: "When you try and take your own life, there is no clearer example of 'I have had enough of this'.

"I had had so enough that I did not want to be here anymore."

Clarke shares how his problems started as a young player, but escalated when he dropped down the leagues towards the end of his career.

"You become the person you never wanted to be - deceitful, lying, it undermines your capacity to be present for your children. I know I'm not providing for them, because I was gambling.

"The greatest difficulty about it for me is the amount of headspace it takes - who have I borrowed from? Who do I owe? What have I said to them? What does my wife know about that?

"It is all consuming."

You can listen to Clarke's story in full, then the rest of the series, as the podcast is released weekly between now and the end of the football season.

Football Untold launches

Host Mick Coyle said: “It’s an honour that these players feel comfortable enough to share their journeys with me and our audience of football fans.

“Their stories are all different, but each one will open your eyes to the realities of life as a problem gambler. I hope hearing these conversations will help people recognise if they might have a problem, but also to help them find the words to express what they’re experiencing so they can get the right sort of help.

“Football fans in general will be fascinated by the realities of life as a footballer.

“People presume it’s an easy one. Football Untold tells a different story”

Former Wales, Coventry, Wigan and Tranmere striker Simon Haworth said: “I hope Football Untold can highlight how easy it is to become a compulsive gambler and to raise awareness of what constitutes an addicted gambler.

“I’m really pleased my fellow professionals are joining me to talk about their experience, and I believe our stories will resonate with football fans everywhere – if we can openly talk about our mental health and addiction problems then we can spread a powerful message about getting help.

“Football Untold is a safe place to listen and talk about these issues, raise awareness, and remove the stigma about struggling with mental health problems, and I’m proud to be part of it."

You can follow Football Untold on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Get help if you have a problem with gambling

The Football Untold Podcast is sponsored by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Beacon Counselling Trust.

Helen Parry, one of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board’s suicide preventions leads, and Neil Platt, Clinical Director at Beacon Counselling Trust and Northwest lead for the new National Gambling Support Network, said:

“We’re extremely grateful to Simon, Clarke, Sam and others for sharing their personal experiences which we know will resonate with so many other people – particularly young men.

“Their accounts highlight the relationship between football betting, gambling related harms and suicidal thoughts. Alarmingly one in five people experiencing gambling related harm have thought about suicide in the last year. Sadly, many do not reach out for support or in fact know where to go for that support.

“Nobody sets out to experience gambling related harms, but we understand things can quickly spiral out of control for some people and that gambling can become all consuming. We want people to know there is help there and the sooner they reach out, the sooner they can start to turn things around.”

If you've been impacted by gambling related harm, or would like to find out more, there is a link to services on the Football Untold website.

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