There weren’t many people outside of Paisley who put St Mirren to finish in the top six on their coupon at the start of the season.
But while many football fans are able to place a few bets without any serious consequences, Saints goalkeeper Trevor Carson revealed he’s determined to never gamble again after his gambling addiction almost cost him everything.
The Buddies No 1 has been a star performer in Paisley since joining the club last year – helping Stephen Robinson’s side seal a first top-half finish in the Premiership since 1985.
While Carson is extremely settled and happy with the Saints, the 35-year-old Northern Ireland international continues to battle an addiction to gambling.
Earlier in his career, Carson revealed he reached rock bottom when he bet his last £200, which he’d put aside for his daughter’s birthday.
That forced him to seek help, with the goalie now recovered and determined to never walk into a bookies again.
And Carson is more than happy to share his story if it helps young footballers avoid facing the same pitfalls which threatened to derail his professional career.
Carson explained to Renfrewshire Live Sport: “I have been off gambling for eight years and I have been in dressing rooms and seen some red flags with some boys. I have then spoken to them about it.
“I don’t speak to them about their situation, but I talk about my own issues and where it took me.
“I hope they would take what I said on board and take it as a warning after what happened to me because of gambling.
“If someone came to me and asked for advice I would tell them my story and where gambling can take you. It is horrible.
“I know some people can have a bet once a month and they have that discipline but I didn’t. I had an addiction.
“Of course, it is rife in football as we have so much time on our hands. You have young guys on their own with disposable income and the temptation is there.”
Carson continued: “I am over eight years off gambling, but I know I am only one bet away from starting again. They say you are an addict for life and that is true.
“I couldn’t just do a bet on the Grand National, for example, and that would be me. If I did that one bet that would be spiralling out of control again.
“Going to Gamblers Anonymous saved me. I went to a meeting with 12 ordinary people in Gloucester on a Tuesday night and I sat and listened to their stories. That night changed my life. I hit rock bottom, my marriage had broken down, I was spending all my money on gambling.
“I made a lot of bad decisions, my daughter had moved back to Newcastle with her mum and I had a lot of time on my hands.
“Personally, I didn’t need anyone to push me or force me to go. I took the decision and I knew I needed help. It was the best decision I ever made.”
With so much money floating around football, Carson believes bodies like PFA England and PFA Scotland must do more to educate young players to use their huge earnings wisely.
And the Saints custodian revealed he’d be more than willing to get involved with a push to improve awareness of the dangers of addiction and gambling in Scotland.
Carson said: “I would love to do something for PFA Scotland and tell my story to youth teams in the country.
“I have spoken to the PFA in England and they need to do more.
“Yes, you get leaflets around the training ground but I think they need to come in and educate people about what it is like.
“It isn’t just about the gambling, they need to teach people how to use their money, spend it wisely and invest it.
“You have teenagers in England on silly money. It is above my station, but I think they should look at it.”
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