Former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra has bravely opened up about his gambling addiction after the Geordie contemplated taking his own life
Michael Chopra
Michael Chopra(Image: YouTube)
Michael Chopra considered taking his own life after the former Newcastle United striker hit 'rock bottom' with his gambling addiction.
Chopra has bravely spoken out about his battle over the years in an effort to raise awareness and help others.
Chopra, who spent time at the Sporting Chance Clinic, previously estimated that he lost up to £2m through betting.
At one stage, in an effort to try and wipe his debt as a youngster at Newcastle, Chopra even asked team-mate Kieron Dyer to place a £120,000 bet for him.
However, Dyer refused and instead tried to help Chopra by alerting captain Alan Shearer, who shared an agent with his fellow Geordie.
Chopra, though, recognised that 'unless you want to stop and help yourself, no one else can' after the striker later resorted to borrowing money during his time at Ipswich Town.
"You're probably looking at gangsters, those sorts of people," he told After the Lights Go Out. "It was through someone I knew.
"I asked them if I could borrow a large chunk of money, probably £30,000 or £40,000.
"It got to a point where I remember coming down from Newcastle on the train to Ipswich and I sent a message to my mum and dad and to all my mates. I just said, 'Listen, thank you for everything. I've had enough. I don't want to be here anymore.'
"It was sad. I had gone from being my mum and dad's boy to this kid that doesn't want to be around anymore just because of an addiction.
"My mum and dad were there taking me to training from the age of five or six in Newcastle. They wanted me to succeed as a footballer.
"When I pulled on the black and white shirt for Newcastle, that was one of the proudest moments ever for my mum and dad, but then I've let them down to the point where, 10 or 15 years later, I'm in a position where it was not because of them. It was all down to me.
"That was when I hit rock bottom and my dad got on the phone straight away to me and said, 'Give me the number. I'll sort it out straight away. Don't do anything'."
Samaritans can be contacted in the UK on freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
You can get in touch with Mind by calling 0300 123 3393 or visiting mind.org.uk.