Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Joe Thomas & Felix Keith

Everton star dubbed "Goodison Gazza" who retired at 21 and lost 25 years to cocaine

Former Everton star Billy Kenny has spoken out about his addiction to alcohol and cocaine which robbed him of 25 years of his life.

Kenny came through the Everton academy to make his debut against Coventry for his hometown club in October 1992. He won acclaim by being named man of the match in the Premier League's first ever Merseyside derby, aged just 19, and picked up the nickname “Goodison Gazza” for his playing style.

But his early career was cruelly hampered by injuries, with shin splints and hernia issues requiring operations. Those injuries, underlying depression and a heavy drinking culture around the club at the time saw Kenny begin to spiral out of control.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.