Sansom joy as he rebuilds his life
Arsenal legend Kenny Sansom reveals a life-threatening drink problem robbed him of his best footballing memories – but he’s now in recovery.
The former England left-back says booze “ruined my life” but he finally “feels like I’m a dad again”.
The Sun exclusively told last month how the 86-cap Londoner, 64, was “proud” to walk his daughter down the aisle.
And he explained to the The Mail how he is putting some shocking low points behind him for more family highs as he continues to get better.
The ex-Crystal Palace hero was in a coma at one stage, unable to eat or drink.
He was diagnosed with Wernicke-Korsakoff and, after he caught pneumonia too, his family were warned he would not be resuscitated if his body failed.
Before that Sansom would often sleep rough – once estimating he downed nine bottles of wine a day.
But as he rebuilds his life he said: “Sometimes I get the hump with myself, sometimes I feel happy.
“I think April will be three years without a drink – that takes some doing.
“Drink ruined my life – that’s one thing I can say for sure. And I know that now, I physically know it, I’ll never drink again.”
He added: “I can enjoy my kids and my grandkids.
“I can take them to football matches…I can take them wherever they want, when I want. It’s up to me. It’s all I want to do now.”
“I feel like I’m their dad. Whereas before? I was a drunk.”
