Tony Kelly's life has been deeply affected by gambling, leading him to bankruptcy. Now, he is tackling a new challenge: funding his charity aimed at raising awareness about gambling risks, particularly among football players.
During his professional career, Kelly made 179 appearances. He believes that without his gambling addiction, that number could have easily surpassed 400. In a recent interview, he shared insights into his struggles with past managers like Alan Ball and Lou Macari, who found it difficult to comprehend his inconsistent performance.
“If you spoke to Lou Macari today, he’d likely say, ‘Tony had great talent, I signed him for two years, but some weeks he was phenomenal, and other weeks he was unrecognizable,’” Kelly explained. The underlying issue was his gambling problem, which was consuming his life.
“My anxiety and stress severely impacted my performance,” Kelly admitted. “I often worried about paying my mortgage, which led to isolation, skipping outings with teammates, and canceling plans with my partner. This contributed to my inconsistent form.”
Throughout his gambling struggles, Kelly lost over £500,000, a sum far exceeding his earnings while playing for clubs in the lower divisions of English football, including Leyton Orient and Cardiff City. “I was in denial, so I never confided in any of my managers,” he noted. Now, he aims to prevent young footballers from experiencing similar pitfalls.
As part of his redemption, Kelly now wears a black polo shirt representing Red Card Gambling, the charity he established following his recovery. His latest book, My Redemption: It’s Full Time, chronicles his journey through addiction, professional football, and recovery. Through Red Card Gambling, he focuses on educational initiatives and sharing his experiences with young athletes.
“Our mission is to raise awareness and educate young people about the potential consequences of their first bet. They might not realize the journey that first wager could lead them on,” he stated.
Kelly reflects on how gambling was a common occurrence during his playing days in the 1990s, often involving card games on team buses. “It was typical for six or seven players on every team I was part of to engage in card games during long trips. The normalization of gambling was evident, as even coaches would join in,” he recalled.
While the nature of gambling may have changed, it remains prevalent in football today. After publishing his first book, Red Card, Kelly worked as a liaison officer at Tottenham, where he was warned by coaches Les Ferdinand and Tim Sherwood about the gambling culture within the club.
Although card games on buses have decreased, online casinos are now easily accessible to players, making it simpler to hide gambling habits. Kelly believes that the punishment of high-profile players for betting, like Tottenham's Sandro Tonali, discourages others from admitting their issues. “Players fear being banned and often feel shame about their problems,” he explained. “From my experience, shame is a significant barrier to overcoming severe gambling issues.”
One of Kelly's main messages is to encourage individuals to overcome the shame that prevents them from seeking help, as this can be crucial for their recovery and career success.