Paul Merson has told of the “wreckage” left by his drinking and gambling and how hit TV series Harry’s Heroes “saved my life, no question, 100%”.
With the second run of the football show hitting screens on Monday, the former Arsenal and England star explained how it has helped him.
Merson, who struggled to overcome booze and gambling addictions, said: “From last time, I’m 100 times better, my life’s changed around. Where I was last year compared to now, I can’t explain.
“The impact of being in the team, it saved my life. I was drinking at least 35 pints a week and gambling. But I’m sober and bet-free now.
“As soon as I addressed the drinking, I didn’t gamble. I’ve come to realise I’m powerless over alcohol. I’m an alcoholic.”
He added: “I have a disease – and it is a disease. My drinking and gambling left a lot of wreckage. As an alcoholic, recovering now, those things are hard for me.
“It’s quite sad really because you look now and think what a waste of a life, some of it.”
Merson, 52, said the difference this time is he made the decision to get clean himself.
“I went into treatment twice and it never helped because people made me go in, the club made me go in or the FA made me go in,” he said. “This is the time I did it for me.”
In the new series, manager Harry Redknapp takes the same bunch of old footballers on a European tour, ending with a re-match against the Germans – this time on their turf.
Redknapp, 73, is full of praise for Merson, saying: “Not drinking must have been very difficult when you’re away with a group of boys who are all mates and all having a chat and sharing stories. And you sit there and never have a drink. He did brilliantly.”
*Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh, was filmed last year and again features David Seaman, Matt Le Tissier, Rob Lee, Ray Parlour, Lee Sharpe, Mark Chamberlain, Mark Wright and Razor Ruddock – plus new squad member, former Aston Villa star Lee Hendrie.
* Harry's Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh, ITV, 18th,19th, 20th May, 9pm.
