Sean Higgins has spoken openly and bravely about his battle with booze after his career as a full-time professional player ended.
He struggled to cope without the life he knew and his problems were compounded when his father died.
Sean’s experience is an all too familiar one to many in football.
High profile-players including Paul Gascoigne and the late Andy Goram didn’t have their troubles to seek when they hung up their boots.
Thankfully, Sean’s story has a happy ending and he is now embracing life with his young family.
He, with the help of a mental health charity, got his life back on track and he now wants other players to avoid the pitfalls he faced.
Sean should be applauded for turning his life around and wanting to help others do the same.
But the issues he highlights go far beyond the national game.
Scotland has long had a problematic relationship with alcohol.
Our hard-drinking culture has blighted too many lives.
It is far too easy in this country to fill in the gaps in your own life by turning to drink.
Sean’s message should not only be heeded by professional footballers nearing the end of their careers – we should all take it on board.
He was able to deal with his problems by seeking help from mental health charity Back Onside who offer the kind of support we all might need one day.
It is good to know there are people out there who can help make things better. Never be afraid to ask for help.
Cost of living it up
The cash the UK Government has wasted on lavish spending is eye-watering.
Politicians spending £145million of taxpayers’ money on luxuries and entertainment is an obscene amount at the best of times.
But it is unforgivable during a cost-of- living crisis.
While so many families have been paying over the odds for energy and are struggling to heat their homes, the Tories have been living it up in expensive restaurants and five-star hotels.
While people were worrying about paying their bills, Liz Truss and two members of her staff spent nearly £1500 at two restaurants in Jakarta.
This disastrous prime minister frittered away our cash on unnecessary luxuries while she crashed the economy and made us pay for it.
The latest revelations are just further examples of how out of touch the Conservative Party is with the people.
The sooner we kick them out, the better.
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