Paul Merson reveals he ‘never had a day off’ despite addiction to alcohol in playing days

Former England footballer Paul Merson has revealed that he never missed a day of training despite struggling with alcohol addiction during his playing career.

Merson, 54, has spoken openly in recent years about his addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling during and after his days on the field.

The former Arsenal and Aston Villa player would have as many as 35 pints a week, he revealed on the Harry’s Heroes documentary in 2020.

In an interview with the Telegraph though, Merson revealed that the extent of his drinking never forced him to miss a day of action. 

He said: ‘I was good at drinking. Didn’t get hangovers. Never had one day off.

‘I’ve even been at a (night) club and turned up straight for training. I played football carefree.

Paul Merson revealed that his drinking addiction never caused him to miss a day of football

‘I saw things on the pitch. (I’d think) you know what, for all my problems off the pitch, this hour-and-a-half on the football pitch is bliss.

‘I might as well try whatever I want. I was a brave footballer.’

Merson has also been frank about the depth of his problems with drugs (cocaine-induced paranoia, and gambling with £7million losses.    

He believes that there is a link to the anxiety and panic attacks he suffered as a child. He was even advised never to play football.

His comments to the Telegraph, come after he revealed to the Sun that he suffered a relapse of his gambling addiction during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

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Merson revealed that he would even go straight from the nightclub into training the next day

Merson has spoken frankly on his alcohol, drug and gambling addictions in recent years

The Sky Sports Soccer Saturday pundit revealed that he lost £160,000 – money that had been set aside to help buy a house for his family.

Merson admitted that he turned back to the bookies during the pandemic because he felt so anxious about a lack of work. 

With no football matches being played, Merson was not able to fulfil his role as a pundit on Sky Sports. 

‘I was on furlough from Sky Sports and at first I enjoyed the lockdown,’ he told The Sun. ‘I was in the garden with my youngest kids and the sun was out. But then I started getting addicted to bulletins when Boris Johnson and the bloke with the red tie came out.

‘My anxiety kicked in and I thought, “They’re not going to have Soccer Saturday any more” was thinking, “I’m not going to be able to earn anything”. My older kids’ mums have houses and I want to give my younger kids a future.

‘Kate [Merson’s wife] and I had £160,000 saved up and I blew it in a few bets. It was all online, but it wasn’t a bookmaker, it was a private bookie.

‘My last bet was eight grand on a table tennis player. I didn’t have a particular knowledge of table tennis but everything was locked down at that point, so there wasn’t much to bet on.

‘I remember sitting in my front room and having suicidal thoughts and my kids were playing and I was thinking, “Oh my God, I’ve just done everything in”.’

Merson, a father of eight, saw his first two marriages fall apart due to his addictions and he believes that his current wife Kate would leave him if he relapses again. 

As a result, he revealed that all of his wages now go to Kate and that he receives ‘pocket money’ from her. Merson also attends Gamblers Anonymous sessions and has become an ambassador for addiction support app Recoverlution. 

During his career as a footballer, Merson won two league titles and the FA Cup while at Arsenal and earned 21 England caps. He also played for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Walsall.