The Plight of Ex Pros

[One8Seven1]

Former Arsenal and England star, and Sky Pundit Kenny Samson has apparently been sleeping rough.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/foot ... 35400.html

Sansom, 54, fell on hard times after retiring, with alcohol and gambling filling the free hours in the day.

After quitting playing professionally at the age of 36, he has played non-league and Masters football while carving out a career doing punditry for several TV channels.

Despite having been described by former Gunners boss George Graham as a "model professional" during his playing days, the former left-back told The Sun:
"I've been living homeless for 10 days. That's because I've got no money, I'm a drunk, I'm feeling not very well and I'm a gambler. "I've been living on the street. It's not good living on the bench."

According to The Sun, Sansom – who is England’s second-most capped full-back after Ashley Cole – was taken in by his sister but disappeared again after a few days.
Londoner Sansom had a long and illustrious playing career, coming through the ranks at Crystal Palace before joining Arsenal in 1980.

He became an ever-present for England, playing in two World Cups and two European Championships, spending eight years at Arsenal and later turning out for Newcastle United, QPR, Coventry City, Everton, Brentford and Watford.

[Toon Toon Blue army]

No sympathy at all for any ex pros who fall on hard times. If you knew how much they get offered for free on a plate; coaching qualifications, educational courses, business courses, vocational skills etc etc. There is no one to blame other than themselves. The PFA literally give money away.

[Royal Lady]

Was never the same after Jerry Williams skinned him time and again at Elm Park!

[bobbybottler]

He was never a model pro though, he had a shocking gambling addiction whilst as a player, no surprise to see George Graham showing indifference to a player's off-field problems.

Sansom needs to consider his former team-mate Paul Vaessen, as he (Sansom) still has a chance to sort his issues out.

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

Saw John Hartson chuffing up a hill on a mountain bike at Center Parcs in Longleat last week.

His villa wasn't as nice as mine. He's clearly fallen on hard times too.

[TBM]

Didn't Paul Merson have to move back in with his Mum?

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

^ Yes. And John Terry was so 'hard up', that he was forced to move in with Wayne Bridge's missus (albeit temporarily, and via the back door etc)

[Wax Jacket]

No sympathy at all for any ex pros who fall on hard times. If you knew how much they get offered for free on a plate; coaching qualifications, educational courses, business courses, vocational skills etc etc. There is no one to blame other than themselves. The PFA literally give money away.

I have some sympathy for him as any sentient human being should

but on the flipside, footballers are very rarely heroes, they're basically chavs who get 15 years at earning serious money

[Green]

No sympathy at all for any ex pros who fall on hard times. If you knew how much they get offered for free on a plate; coaching qualifications, educational courses, business courses, vocational skills etc etc. There is no one to blame other than themselves. The PFA literally give money away.

I have some sympathy for him as any sentient human being should

yep, could happen to any of us

[One8Seven1]

Saw John Hartson chuffing up a hill on a mountain bike at Center Parcs in Longleat last week.

His villa wasn't as nice as mine. He's clearly fallen on hard times too.

I doubt he cares much about his standard of villa, and cares more for staying free of cancer.

[From Despair To Where?]

Saw John Hartson chuffing up a hill on a mountain bike at Center Parcs in Longleat last week.

His villa wasn't as nice as mine. He's clearly fallen on hard times too.

I doubt he cares much about his standard of villa, and cares more for staying free of cancer.

I'm pretty sure that when it was initially announced that he had cancer, it was stated that he had secondary cancer in his lymphatic system which is just about as serious as it gets. To be honest, if I'd seen him chuffing up a hill on a mountain bike in Centre Parcs, I'd have given him a oxf*rd great pat on the back at the top.

[Royal Lady]

Saw John Hartson chuffing up a hill on a mountain bike at Center Parcs in Longleat last week.

His villa wasn't as nice as mine. He's clearly fallen on hard times too.

We were there at the same time!! My stepson saw someone in a Reading shirt and shouted URZZZZ and got a look of derision for his efforts!

[Mid Sussex Royal]

9 bottles of wine a day - he'd already had three when teh sun interviewed him in the morning...

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

Saw John Hartson chuffing up a hill on a mountain bike at Center Parcs in Longleat last week.

His villa wasn't as nice as mine. He's clearly fallen on hard times too.

I doubt he cares much about his standard of villa, and cares more for staying free of cancer.

I'm pretty sure that when it was initially announced that he had cancer, it was stated that he had secondary cancer in his lymphatic system which is just about as serious as it gets. To be honest, if I'd seen him chuffing up a hill on a mountain bike in Centre Parcs, I'd have given him a oxf*rd great pat on the back at the top.

Massive whoosh to both of you.

I'm sure he would have appreciated your patronising pat on the back though.

[Green]

LOL