In this episode of The Invisible Addiction Podcast former Stoke City and Burton Albion footballer Ben Markall shares his footballer journey and gambling addiction story.
Going into the interview, I wanted to explore the relationship between professional footballers and gambling.
At the time, Ben was of England’s most expensive 14-year-olds, transferring from Cheltenham Town to Stoke City for £70,000.
What effect did that have on him?
What was it like training alongside players like Michael Owen at Stoke?
What made him turn to gambling, and how did he stop?
Ben is a highly driven young man, and has since founded his own football coaching business, Premier Progress. Besides this, he works as a football intermediary for Paramount Sports Management, run by former Jamaican international footballer Daryl Powell, and is also a programme facilitator for EPIC Risk Management, sharing his story to educate sports players on gambling related harm.
It’s a candid and insightful Podcast, and one I’ve been hugely excited to share with you!
Here's a rough breakdown of the conversation:
00:00 Introductions and hearing about the start of Ben’s footballing journey
13:48 Did he feel the pressure at Stoke City?
16:50 How did he start gambling?
25:19 Did anyone at Burton Albion notice his gambling?
27:30 How did he stop gambling and get help? 36:41 What was the reaction from friends and family?
44:56 What advice would he give a young Ben Markall?
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This Podcast is proudly sponsored by Gamban - which blocks access to online gambling on all your devices.
I also highly recommend accessing TalkBanStop which is a partnership between GamCare, Gamban and GAMSTOP to help anyone experiencing gambling harms to start their recovery journey.
