BEDWETTING, blackouts and vomiting were once the norm for Tony Adams.
Gripped by his addiction to alcohol, the Arsenal and England legend was “literally drinking myself to death” before turning sober 30 years ago.
Adams, 59, was even contemplating suicide and, in truth, it is remarkable that he is here today to tell the tale.
That is exactly what he has done in his new book, 1996, and over the course of an hour-long chat with SunSport and selected media.
Dressed in a bright, snappy suit, Adams is a world away from the man who routinely woke up having wet the bed after a night on the booze.
The former Three Lions captain said: “The book is a celebration — a celebration of recovery. It’s hope, and it’s someone that’s living a fantastic life because he recovered.
“I’m proud I’ve not p***ed the bed for 30 years, guys. Incredibly proud.
“And you might say: ‘Maybe winning the Cup Winners’ Cup [makes you proud]’. No, I’ve not wet the bed for 30 years. I kept on doing it, you know?
“And if I could find a way to drink without weeing myself, I’d probably still be drinking. But I couldn’t. I crossed the line.”
It was in 1996 that Adams “crossed the line”, going sober after a 44-day bender in the wake of England crashing out of Euro 96.
His new book chronicles that year in graphic detail. Along with anecdotes of bedwetting, vomiting and blackouts, Adams opens up on using cocaine and paying for sex workers.
He also explains how his mother-in-law took his kids away from him as he hit rock bottom.
Adams said: “I can see that’s a sick man there. That’s a real sick man. I can see it, like the fog’s been lifted.
“The football, in effect, and drinking and everything was up. I’d crossed the line and I knew it wasn’t safe for me.
“That’s why I white-knuckled it through Euro 96, and then when Gareth Southgate missed his penalty, then I’ve got no option. I was heading for the bar, wasn’t I? No choice. I was trapped.
“And I’ve never been so lonely and so desperate and sad when I saw all the players leaving Burnham Beeches.
“It (the alcohol) had stopped working. I wanted the end.
“We talk about the jumping off point in Alcoholics Anonymous, and I got to that moment where I gave in.”
The way Adams has turned his life around shows there is light at the end of the tunnel and he hopes his story helps others.
He admits alcoholism is not his biggest worry for the modern player but fears other addictions could take hold.
Adams said: “They have changed their drug of choice. There’s a load of gambling at the moment. It’s an epidemic within football and society.
“I always give the example of a breathalyser. You can’t see if they are three times over the gambling limit. You know what I mean? There’s no signs when you look at someone.”
Adams especially has concerns over betting advertising around football — and the free bets offered by companies.
He added: “It’s like saying to me, ‘Go on, have a drink, Tony. This one’s on the house. Come on, have a line, there’s a bit of coke. Go on, son’. It’s the same as that. Have a free bet.
“Even the adverts that said ‘Stop gambling’ — a protection warning — that for an addict is a gamble.
“It’s like when you’re teaching kids, ‘Don’t run’. All they do is run. They’re legging it down the road.”
Even amid the darkness of Adams’ story there is some light in his tale.
Such as when he had 27 cappuccinos during his first Christmas party sober or singing karaoke with Paul Merson so badly everyone assumed he was back on the sauce.
Adams said: “I did Wild Thing. I sang it and came off stage and everyone thought I was s**tfaced. ‘He’s p***ed again, he’s drunk again’.”
There has been joy for Adams, too, in seeing his son, Olly, beat his own addiction to alcohol.
He now heads up one of Adams’ charities — Six Mental Health Addiction — and lives out in Portugal.
Adams said: “When you’re watching someone that you love self-destruct, it’s one of the most gut-wrenching, emotional things that I’ve ever done.
“He came to me, April 23, St George’s Day, a couple of years back and said: ‘Dad, I’m f***ed. I’m done’.
“And there had been times over the 12 years of watching him self-destruct — like I did — that I gave him a number but he wasn’t ready, didn’t want it.
“And then fast forward that, when he came to me, he went, ‘F***ing hell, I’m done. I’m done’. So I took him to a meeting. I said, ‘American Patrick’s over there. He’s your sponsor. Go’.”
As well as celebrating 30 years sober, Adams will also hit the landmark of his 60th birthday in October.
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He is planning a small celebration and perhaps the biggest gift could be his latest book, which will be his third and final.
Adams said: “I like myself today, that’s all right. And I don’t care if you think I’m a knob. I don’t care. It doesn’t affect me.
“I always say the people who read it will be the people who need it. That’s not money-orientated.
“There’s no ego in this book. It’s what happened to a man. Honest. It’s the year that changed my life. And celebrate — we’re living free now.”
- 1996: Reflections on the year that changed my life by Tony Adams with Ian Ridley is published by Floodlit Dreams in paperback, £11.99 and in hardback exclusively at www.floodlitdreams.com, £14.99.
