Paul Merson is a much-loved former professional footballer and manager turned football television pundit. He notably played in the Premier League for Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, as well as appearing in the Football League for Brentford and Portsmouth. Paul won the league title twice, in the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup Winners Cup, earning 21 caps for England and scoring three times. He is a much sought-after speaker, telling tales from his book ‘How Not to Be a Professional Footballer’.
In recent years, Paul has also opened up about a very different topic, his own struggle with addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling and his eventual journey down the road to recovery. Sharing his story candidly, Paul’s talks help to bust myths and open up the conversation around addiction.
Full of his much-loved humour, Paul Merson shares stories from his footballing and managerial career. The perfect peptalk for all sporting fans!
According to the latest Public Health England report on gambling, 0.5% of the population (approximately 246,000 people) are problem gamblers, and 3.8% (2.2 million people) are 'at-risk' gamblers. As someone who has struggled with addiction and mental health, Paul Merson is able to bring his experience, his vulnerability and his honesty to help beat the stigma and open up the conversation around addiction.
