Tony Adams was a historic English player who played his entire life for Arsenal, from 1983 to 2002. In that extensive career as a professional footballer, where he won two League Cups, three Leagues (two in FL First Division format and one Premier League ), three FA Cups and two Charity Shields along with a European Cup Winners’ Cup. However, despite having a great professional career, problems with alcohol were part of his life.
James W saved my life and cleaned up hundreds of people
Tony Adams on his therapist
On the occasion of the death of James W, director of Sporting Chance, Tony Adams’ charity organization, the Englishman collapsed as this person was very important to him with his problems with alcohol. The ‘Gunner’ legend defined this person as his “hero, therapist, sponsor and mentor. He saved my life and cleaned up hundreds of people”, starting the path towards the new life of the former British footballer.
On the pitch, Adams was known for being a leader, captaining Arsenal for 14 years, and being part of the “famous four”, using the offside trap with great success. However, his addiction to alcohol took a toll on his private life. One of his first consequences was a fall down some stairs, which caused a wound on his forehead that required 29 stitches. Weeks later, the Englishman would score the goal that would give him a place in the FA Cup final against Tottenham. Coincidentally, he wrote this much down with the forehead where such a damage had been caused days before.
I put her in rehab because she took crack
Tony Adams on his first wife
In fact, due to his alcoholism, Adams met Jane Shea, his first wife. Regarding her, the former soccer player says that “I put her in rehabilitation because she took crack and I surrounded myself with sick people to support me. I thought that all my problems were her fault: I had the banner of being the captain of England.”
The year 1996 was very important for Tony Adams’ life, in a very tragic way: “I was 29 years old and I didn’t want to be on the planet.” In addition, an injury in February caused him to have even more problems with alcohol: “I knew I was completely trapped and that is the worst place I have ever been. In March, they took my children. I did not drink around them , but I passed out one Sunday night. I drank seven bottles of chablis. So the mother-in-law took the children.”
When Southgate missed that penalty, I was drunk for 44 days
Tony Adams on what happened at Euro 1996
Jane Shea’s mother, Barbara, gave Adams contact with James W, whom she met one day drunk. During Euro 1996, he isolated himself from this life, but once Southgate missed that penalty against Germany in the semi-final, the Englishman recounts that “alcohol was back in my hand, a 44-day bender. At the end of my drink, I’ve seen things come out of the closet. I was paranoid. I thought there was someone in the house. I thought he was killing people.” That same year, the former Arsenal footballer started going to Alcoholics Anonymous and there it changed his life, a fact for which he heartily thanks his mother-in-law: “She saved my life.”
I am completely recovered
Tony Adam on his problems with alcohol
Just before Wenger’s arrival at Arsenal, Adams stopped drinking alcohol, who supported the Englishman with this addiction, but the most important person to solve these problems has been James W. The day after his funeral, the former ‘Gunner’ captain has been appointed chairman of national addiction and recovery charity, The Forward Trust: “Today I do what I preach. I am fully recovered, but I still attend regular meetings and go to three or four prisons a year, passing the message on to the newcomer what is there aid”.