"We climbed the mountain of recovery together": Steph Shilton on gambling addiction amid summer of sport
Steph supported her husband England footballer, Peter Shilton, to overcome 45 years of addiction
The wife of England's most capped footballer has said his gambling addiction was "lonely, isolating and full of fear" as she campaigns to raise awareness to the impacts on loved ones.
Steph Shilton is married to former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who overcame a 45-year gambling addiction with her support.
Now an addiction counsellor and a Patron of studies at Bristol University’s Gambling Harm Hub, Steph is raising awareness to the impacts addiction can have on friends and families.
She tells Greatest Hits Radio: "We climbed the mountain of recovery together."
"It wasn't weeks but months of building back his life, cleansing him of all these awful gambling behaviours.
"When living with a gambler, you are living the highs and lows, the wins, the losses...
"I'd never want to go back to it, really really dark times.
She tells us it's "more important than ever" during the summer’s major sporting events as gambling promotion and public engagement spike.
"While the gambling debate often focuses on the individual, the harm caused to those around them is immense and often invisible, ranging from financial stress and anxiety to domestic abuse, relationship breakdown and suicidal thoughts" says Steph.
Steph mentions a notable increase she's seeing in females gambling on football matches.
In 2025, two thirds of UK adults place a bet or gamble at least once a month, according to betting site BetVictor.
"I'd encourage everyone, addicts and the people around them, to access support" says Steph.
"Being around a loved one who has a gambling disorder is incredibly lonely, isolating, fearful.
"I felt all of those and that's why I now want to help people who are going through the same thing."
EPIC restart foundation offers a free 1:1 service and group support to addicts, and anyone impacted by a loved one’s gambling.